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BONAPARTE, 


AND 


THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE 

(Hniiet:  U9  Consulate, 


Gi^stc  V  vcii^   Sell )  oJp  r  ^-•^  <for r" 
BONAPARTE, 


AND 


THE    FRENCH    PEOPLE 


UNDER  HIS  CONSULATE. . 


TR.V,'SLATED  FROM  THE  GEIUI.JA: 


i-ERlTAS  ODIUM  PARir. 


THE   FIRST  AMEHICAN    EDITION. 


Octo^J^orfe : 


PRINTED    PA'  ISAAC  COLLINS  AND  SON. 
■"OR   THh:MbKI,VKS,    AND  FOR  SAMUKL   STAXSBVH 

IS  04. 


DC 

....   ..,  ^;> 


ADVERTISEMENT. 

Thk  circumstances  attending  the  publication  of 
the  present  work  excite  peculiar  interest.  It  ap- 
peared in  Germany  a  short  time  since  :  its  sale  was 
uncommonly  rapid;  but  no  sooner  did  it  reach  tlie 
First  Consul,  than  he  exerted  his  influence  with  the 
Continental  Powers^  and  every  where  succeeded  in 
obtaining  its  suppression, 

Bonaparte  has  hitherto  been  but  imperfectly 
known;  and  as  his  influence  is  not  likely  to  cause 
its  interdiction  /icre,  the  world  may  yet  luive  an 
opportunity  of  forn)ing  an  estimate  of  the  man, 
who've  political  successes  have  so  materially  con- 
tribut(;d  to  agitate  Europe. 

It  may  be  necessary  to  observe,  that  several  quo- 
tations from  public  orators,  as  w^ell  as  extracts  from 
some  French  pamphlets,  which  were  interspersed 
in  the  original,  are  here  given  as  an  appendix. 

London,  .Tune  8,  1804. 


PREFACE 
BY  THE  AUTHOR 


A  German,  of  no  party,  not  unacquainted 
with  the  former  ftate  of  France,  a  near  ob- 
fcrver  of  the  French  revolution,  fometimes 
abfent,  fometimes  prefent,  and  of  late  its  in- 
habitant, does  not  think  it  an  unwelcome 
fcrvice  to  his  countrymen,  if  he  fiiithfully 
relate  to  them  what  he  has  found  mod  re- 
markable and  interefting  during  his  flay  at 
Paris.  Fie  does  not  aim  at  the  honor  of  being 
ranked  either  among  the  detrafters  or  the  apo- 
logifls  of  the  prefent  conftitution  and  govern- 
ment, but  will  rather  abilain,  as  much  as  pof- 
fiblc,  from  all  opprobrious  terms  and  enthufi- 
aflic  praifcs,  with  which  foreign  and  French 
v.ritcrs  too  often  abound.      His   chief  objeft 


PREFACE. 

is,  to  unravel  the  condu6t  of  the  French  go- 
vernment to  his  readers,  as  far  as  he  is  able  to 
comprehend  it. 

Every  occurrence  in  new-modelled  France, 
deriving  its  fource  from  that  extraordinary- 
man,  who  gave  to  it  its  prefent  form,  a  view 
of  his  life,  which  may  ferve  to  eftablifh  the 
truth  of  former  accounts,  to  corre6t  others, 
and  to  bring  fome  new  fa6ls  to  light,  appear- 
ed to  him  the  mofl  unobjedlionable  way. 
Thofe  readers  who  may  defire  to  be  informed 
of  his  military  achievements,  or  his  political 
tranfaftions,  will  find  much  fatisfa6tion  in  a 
number  of  great  and  fmall  French  publica- 
tions ;  in  feveral  journals  publifhed  in  Ger- 
many, by  Archenholz,  Huber,  Botticher;  in 
the  political  annals  of  PolTett,  and  in  ano- 
ther journal,  appearing  under  the  general  title 
"  France," 

Paris,  i?i  the  1  Ith  Year  of  the  Re^iublic. 


BONAPARTE 


AND    THE 


FRENCH    PEOPLE 


-Napoleon  Bonaparte  was  born  the 
15th  of  Augufl,  1769,  at  Ajaccio,  a  fmall 
town  on  the  weftcrn  fide  of  Corfica  :  he  was 
the  eldcfl  fon  of  a  lawyer,  who  poffeffed  fome 
land  near  that  place. 

General  Marboeuf,  who  had  jufh  finifhed 
the  conqaefl  of  Corfica  for  France,  and  re- 
mained there  as  governor  of  the  iiland,  foon 
became  an  intimate  friend  of  the  family  of 
Bonaparte,  and  fhcwcd  a  fatherly  concern  for 
the  education  of  young  Napoleon,  whom  he 
caufed  to  be  admitted  into  the  royal  mili- 
tary college  at  Brienne,  in  that  province  of 
France,  formerly  called  Champagne,  to  which 
B 


2  BONAPARTE 

he  WD.S  removed  in  the  year  1779,  being  then 
ten  years  of  age.  As  he  was  of  a  weakly  con- 
ftitution,  and  naturally  inclined  to  folitude, 
and  a  ftoical  rigour  in  life,  he  gained  but  little 
in  bodily  ftrength,  cheerfulnefs  of  mind,  or 
fociai  virtue,  by  confinement,  anci anxious  rc- 
flri6tions  to  which  the  Monks,  the  guardians 
of  this  military  cloifler,  thought  proper  to 
bind  their  pupils.  • 

The  regular  hours  of  fchool  excepted,  he 
lived  at  firfl  almofl  exclufively  in  his  gloomy 
cell,  where,  provided  with  the  fpare  furniture 
of  a  hammock,  an  earthen  jug,  and  a  wafh- 
ing-bafoR,  he  v/as  locked  up  every  night  like 
other  pupils,  and  clofely  watched  by  an  in- 
fpe6lor,  patrolling  all  night  up  and  down  the 
corridor.  Afterwards  he  ufed  to  retire  to 
his  ftudies  to  a  fmall  folitary  garden,  for 
which  he  had  contrived  to  obtain  fomc  ad- 
ditional "round  from  his  fchoolfellows  :    this 

o 

he  had  endeavoured  to  fcparate  as  much  as 
pofhble    from    their   polFeflions,    and    to   ex- 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  ,  f5 
elude  every  one  by  planting  pallifadocs  and 
fhrubs  around  it.  One  day,  when  his  fchool- 
fellows,  after  unfuccefsfully  attempting  to 
let  ofF  fome  fire-works,  and  many  of  them 
being  feverely  fcorched,  in  their  confufion 
broke  through  this  fence  to  efcapc,  he  drove 
them  back  with  his  garden  implements.  He 
never  joined  in.  their  parties  and  youthful 
fports.  He  MH  dubbed  the  Spartan,  and  re- 
tained this  nickname  as  long  as  he  remained 
in  the  college. 

The  deliverance  of  his  native  land  from 
the  French  yoke  was  his  favourite  theme  ; 
and  his  expreffions,  in  that  refpeft,  often  be- 
trayed in  him  a  belief  of  its  being  his  def- 
tiny  happily  to  accompiifh  the  plans,  in  which 
Paoli,  who  was  then  the  idol  of  his  heart, 
had  proved  unfuccefsful.  His  fchoolfellows 
could  not  provoke  his  anger  more,  than  by 
calling  him  a  valTal  of  France.  He  had 
Iworn  eternal  hatred  to  the  Genoefe,  by  whom 
Corfica  was  fold  to  that  power.     One  day. 


4  BONAPARTE 

when  a  young  CoiTican,  newly  arrived,  was 
prefented  to  him  as  a  Gcnocib,  he  inflantly 
feized  him  by  the  hair,  and  would  have  killed 
him,  if  fome  flronger  boys  had  not  parted 
them.  For  feveral  weeks  after,  his  rage  al- 
ways rekindled,  when  by  chance  he  met  this 
young  ftudent. 

He  likewife  fignalized  himfelf  from  his 
fchoolfellows,  by  a  religious  call  of  mind,  to 
the  great  fatisfaftion  of  his  fpiritual  teachers. 

The  mode  of  inftru6lion  in  this  college 
being  chiefly  calculated  for  improvement  in 
military  art,  coincided  befl  with  his  inclina- 
tion. Bonaparte  did  not  profit  much  by  the 
general  inflru6lions  at  the  beginning,  but 
foon  devoted  himfelf  exclufivcly  to  the  fludy 
of  mathematics.  Pie  cared  little  about  the 
knowledge  of  clafTic  or  modern  languages, 
and  dill  lefs  for  an  acquaintance  with  the  li- 
beral arts  and  fcicnces  ;  even  the  mechanical 
proficiencies  of  youth,  as  writing,  riding, 
&.C.  were  little  regarded  by  him  :  hence  he  ftill 


A\D  THE  FRENXH  PEOPLE.  5 

writes  a  bad,  illegible  hand,  and  is  but  an  indif- 
ferent horfeman.  His  grcatcfl;  delight  was  in 
reading  Piutarcli,  and  the  life  of  the  Marflial 
Prince  of  Saxony,  which  he  chofe  as  a  recre- 
ation after  the  regular  hours  of  clofe  ftudy  in 
inathematics. 

The  firft  friend  he  felccled  among  his 
fchoolfellows  was  Faucclct  de  Bourienne, 
like  him  a  fludent  in  mathematics,  and  a 
youth  who  by  his  mild  temper  and  pleafmg 
bafhfulnefs,  had  rained  the  ciood  will  of  all  the 
other  boys.  This  Bourienne  became,  and  al- 
ways continued,  firfl  private  fccretary  to  Bo- 
naparte, till  the  prefent  year. 

His  morofenefs,  and  rough  behaviour,  to 
mofl  of  his  fchoolfellows,  expofed  him  to 
continual  quarrels  and  battles,  in  which  he 
generally  fufFered,  being  the  weakefl;  yet  he 
would  never  lodge  a  complaint  with  his  rigid 
ichoolmaflers  a<zain[l  them.  Pie  was  sene- 
rally  their  fpeaker  and  advocate  in  their  little 
luiurredions,     and    was   ufnaliy  fmgled    out 


6  BONAPARTE 

and  pLiniilicd  as  the  leader,  when  the  other 
boys  would  cringe  for  fear  of  being  flogged; 
yet  the  moft  fevere  chaflifement  could  not 
draw  a  fingle  complaint  from  his  lips. 

He  even  feemed  to  be  quite  indifferent  at 
a  military  difgrace  he  once  met  with.  The 
pupils  were  divided  into  companies,  forming 
a  battalion  ;  the  officers  were  chofen  among 
themrelves,  and  bore  the  uniform  of  the 
French  regulars  :  Bonaparte  enjoyed  the  rank 
of  captain.  By  a  court  martial,  fummoned  on 
the  occaiion,  and  proceeding  with  all  due 
form  and  folemnity,  he  was  declared  un- 
worthy of  the  command  over  his  comrades, 
and  condemned  to  be  reduced  to  the  ranks. 
He  heard  this  fentence  read  to  him,  and  fufFercd 
himfclf  quietly  to  be  flripped  of  his  mfignia, 
as  an  officer,  without  ever  betraying  the  leafl 
fymptom  of  forrow. 

From  that  period  he  began  to  join  in  the 
fports  of  the  younger  boys,  where  they 
fhewed  him  an  uncommon  partiality.    He  in- 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  T 

Ilru6led  them  in  a  kind  of  game,  modelled 
after  the  Olympic  and  Roman  contentions  in 
the  circus  ;  but  thefe  fports  foon  ended  in 
real  fights  and  bloody  nofes.  The  leader  was 
chaftifed,  and  this  new  fort  of  diverficn  abo- 
lilhed. 

Bonaparte  then  relapfed  into  his  former 
morofc  and  foiitar}'  life,  when  in  the  hard 
winter  of  the  year  1783,  his  natural  propen- 
fity  to  trials  in  fortification,  routed  in  him 
the  idea  of  building  a  fmall  fort  with  fnow. 
With  the  common  garden  utenfils,  affifted  by 
ills  mofl  zealous  comrades,  he  completed  a  re- 
gular fquarc,  with  four  baflions  on  its  corners, 
furrounded  by  a  wall,  three  feet  fix  inche.^ 
high,  of  which  the  remains,  hardened  by  the 
frofl,  were  flill  difcernible  in  the  month  of 
May. 

After  a  flay  of  five  years  at  this  fchool, 
and   havintr  undcrijone  the   annual  examina- 

o  o 

tion  of  the  royal  infpc6lor,  the  latter  found 
him  fo  well  vcrfcd  in   the  art    of  fortification, 


8  BONAPARTE 

that  he  thought  fit  to  fend  him  to  the  great 
mihtary  college  at  Paris,  where  he  arrived  on 
the  17th  of  06tober,    1784. 

There  he  continued  in  his  wonted  aufte- 
rity,  and  in  the  exclufive  application  to 
the  ftudy  of  mathematics.  By  the  inflruc- 
tions  of  the  celebrated  Monges,  he  profited  in 
fuch  a  manner,  as  to  be  promoted  into  the 
corps  of  artillery  after  his  firfl;  examination. 
Among  300  pupils  then  at  the  college,  he 
chofe  for  his  more  intimate  friends,  Laurifton, 
who  was  of  a  phlegmatic  temper,  and  Dupont, 
an  audacious  youth.  He  generally  fpent  his 
leifure  hours  in  one  of  the  baftions  of  a  fmall 
fort,  called  "  Lieu  brune,"  and  built  for  the 
ufe  of  the  pupils  at  the  top  of  their  ufual 
walk.  There,  leaning  on  the  parapet,  with 
the  works  of  Vauban,  Cohorn,  and  Folard, 
by  his  fide,  he  drew  plans  for  the  attack  and 
defence  of  this  fmall  fort.  Me  entered  the 
regiment  of  artillery  called  "  la  Fere,"  garri- 
foncd  at  Auxone.  as  lieutenant,  in  July,  1785, 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  9 

and  there  ufually  paffed  the  greater  part  of 
the  day  in  the  precin6ls  of  the  fortification, 
and  half  the  night  in  reading  miHtary  books. 
His  predileftion  forrepubhcan  Hberty  brought 
him  into  many  difputes  and  troubles :  one 
of  his  comrades  challenged  him  once  on  that 
account ;  but  the  matter  was  amicably  fettled 
through  the  interference  of  friends.  Another 
time,  whilfl  walking  by  the  fide  of  a  river 
with  his  fellow  officers,  he  declared  himfelf 
an  enemy  to  the  king,  and  provoked  their 
anger  to  iuch  a  degree,  that  they  were  on  the 
point  of  throwing  him  in,  which  he  very 
narrowly  efcaped. 

By  the  death  of  General  Marboeuf,  in  the 
year  1786,  he  loft  that  fupport  and  proteftion, 
which  alone  could  render  his  ftay  at  the  regi- 
ment agreeable  and  advantageous,  he  there- 
fore returned  to  his  mother  in  Corfica. 

In  the  year  1790,  when  a  revolution  broke 
out  in  Corfica,  he  was  made  commander  of 
a  battalion  of  national    guards,    at    Ajaccio. 
t. 


10  BONAPARTE 

Paoli  looking  on  him  as  a  dangerous  enemy  to 
his  felfifli  plans,  drove  him  with  his  family- 
back  to  France,  where  they  arrived  in  the 
year  1793. 

Bonaparte  re-entered  the  corps  of  artillery. 
At  the  fiege  of  Toulon,  whilfl  ferving  a  field- 
piece,  with  nothing  but  dead  bodies  lying 
around  him,  he  was  efpied  by  the  reprefenta- 
tives  Barras  and  Freron,  who  inftantly  com- 
mitted to  him  the  defence  of  a  redoubt  of  im- 
portance. 

Barras,  an  experienced  commander,  foon 
found  fault  with  the  pointing  of  the  guns  in 
this  battery;  but  Bonaparte  bade  him  mind  his 
own  affairs,  as  reprefentative  of  the  people,  and 
leave  the  care  of  this  redoubt  to  him. 

After  the  taking  of  Toulon,  he  was  pro- 
moted to  the  rank  of  brigadier-general,  and 
fent  to  Nizza ;  but  Aubry,  the  deputy,  dif- 
placed  him  foon  after,  and  fent  him  into 
prifon  as  a  terrorifl. 

Being  releafed,  it  was  intended  to  give  him 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  I  i 

a  commiffion  in  the  infantry,  but  he  haflened 
to  Paris  to  lodge  his  complaints.  Finding  no 
redrefs,  he  demanded  his  difcharge,  and  leave 
to  go  to  Conftantinople,  but  was  refufed  both. 
On  the  infurredion  of  the  Parifians,  on  the 
bloody  and  ever  memorable  days  of  the  4th 
and  5th  of  06lober,  1795,  he  headed  the 
troops  as  fecond  in  command  under  Barras  : 
tranquillity  being  reftored,  the  command 
of  the  army  of  the  interior  was  entrufted  to 
him. 

Soon  after  he  married  the  chere  amie  of 
Barras,  the  widov>r  of  General  Beauharnois, 
who  died  under  the  guillotine.  By  this  mar- 
riage he  obtained  a  fortune  of  500,000 
livres,  and  the  chief  command  of  the  Italian 
army.  He  found  it  in  a  mod  deplorable 
ftate,  but  by  cunning  and  fuccefsful  enter- 
prifes,  he  reftored  difcipline,  and  fupplied 
the  wants  of  the  troops.  At  the  battle  of  Lodi 
he  betrayed,  for  the  firft  time,  that  military 
ftubbomnefs.,  which  does  not  fcruple  about 


12  BONAPARTE 

the  facrifice  of  human  blood.  He  conquered 
,1  Lombardy.  The  Venetians  provoked  his  an- 
ger by  an  unquaHfied  fupport  of  the  Auftrians. 
He  marched  againft  Rome  and  Naples;  fhew- 
ing  outwardly  refpeft  and  moderation  towards 
the  Pope,  he  granted  an  armiflice  ;  and  the 
moft  precious  monuments  of  art,  the  choiceft 
treafures  of  the  libraries  in  the  Vatican,  and 
cabinets  of  the  princes,  were  delivered  up  to 
France  for  ever. 
.i  Near  Cafliglione  he  is  defeated  for  the  firfl 
time ;  but  this  reverfe  only  increafcs  his  bold- 
nefs  in  the  attack  of  Lonado,  which  is  followed 
by  another  vitlory  near  Roveredo.  At  Areola 
he  andAugereau  experience  the  firfl  refiftance 
of  French  troops  to  obey  their  commands  ; 
they  refufe  to  pafs  the  bridge  as  they  had 
done  at  Lodi,  feeing  certain  death  before  their 
eyes.  He  alters  the  plan  of  attack,  and  fights 
the  bloody  battles  near  Areola  and  Rivoli,  with 
Hill  greater  fury.  Mantua  furrenders  on  the 
2d  of  February,   1797.     Bonaparte  proceeds 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PILOPLE.  13 

to  the  frontiers  of  Tyrol,  and  after  the  fur- 
render  of  the  fortrefs  Klagenfart  marches  on 
towards  Vienna.  His  Hght  troops  approach 
at  the  diflance  of  twenty  leagues,  but  the  Ve- 
netians fall  upon  the  fmall  garrifons  and  the 
wounded  who  were  left  behind.  His  wrath 
rekindles  at  this  trcachcrv. 

The  emperor  fued  for  peace:  Preliminaries 
were  figned  at  Leobcn,  in  1797  ;  and  the  Ve- 
netians, the  oldeft  republicans  of  Europe, 
were  delivered  over  to  him. 

Bonaparte  returned  to  Paris,  and  was  re- 
ceived like  a  Saviour ;  he  was  named  plenipo- 
tentiary to  the  congrefs  of  Radfladt;  but  he 
difcovered  on  both  fides  a  defire  to  prolong 
the  negociations  for  peace,  and  haftencd  back 
to  Paris,  where  new  honors  and  the  hiijhefl: 
praifes  were  profufcly  bcRowed  upon  him.  He 
was  promoted  to  tlic  chict  command  of  an  ex- 
pedition, feemingly  dircclcd  againfl  England. 
He  pretended  to  employ  his  time  in  fcicntihc 
purfuits.  yet  m  r.;cl  he  planned  the  ronouell  of 


U  BONAPARTE 

Egypt :  the  weak  direftory,  fearing  his  popu- 
larity, moft  readily  entered  into  this  meafure. 
Sparred  on  by  jealoufy,  they  employed  all 
poffible  means  to  prepare  a  grand  expedition, 
at  once  fcientific  and  military.  The  treafury 
of  the  city  of  Bern,  being  fuppofed  to  be  far 
richer  than  fubfequent  experience  proved, 
was  intended  to  defray  the  expences  of  the 
enterprife.  This  mis-calculation  decided  the 
fate  of  the  poor  Swifs,  who  had  given  offence 
to  the  uncontrolled  warrior,  by  their  anxioufly 
endeavouring  to  prevent  the  marching  of  his 
troops  through  their  territories. 

In  the  month  of  May,  1798,  a  fleet  of  one 
hundred  and  ninety-four  fail,  with  40,000  of 
the  befl  French  troops,  under  the  command  of 
their  ablefl  generals  (many  learned  men,  ar- 
tifts,  and  mechanics  accompanying  them,)  fet 
out  from  Toulon.  Bonaparte  had  a  moft  mi- 
raculous cfcape  from  the  Englifh  fleet :  he 
poffeffed  himfelf  of  Malta  by  his  artfulnefs 
and  force,  left   it  on  the  20th  of  June  for 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  13 

Egypt,  and  again  efcaped  the  vigilance  of 
Nelfon's  fquadron,  then  only  a  few  leagues 
off. 

Before  landing,  he  iffued  a  proclamation, 
recommending  to  his  troops  a  refpe6lful  beha- 
viour towards  the  Mahomedans  and  the  fe- 
male fex.  He  laid  Alexandria  under  contri- 
bution, and  marched  on  to  Cairo  without  de- 
lay ;  but  met  with  an  unexpe6led  refiftancc 
from  the  well-mounted  and  warlike  Mame- 
lukes. )  By  an  expert  manoeuvre,  he  made  a 
dreadful  havoc,  and  difperfed  them.  Cairo 
was  taken,  and  the  foldicrs  gained  an  immenfc 
booty,  chiefly  by  poITefling  themfelves  of  the 
property  of  the  Mamelukes.  Bonaparte  pur- 
fued  Ibrahim  Bey  into  Syria,  converfed  like  a 
Turk  near  the  grand  pyramid  '•'  des  chops" 
with  the  Turkifli  chiefs,  and  declared  himfelf 
a  friend  and  adorer  of  Mahomed.  Whilfl  he 
was  fucccfsfully  attacking  Murad  Bey  in  fe- 
veral  battles,  though  not  without  lofs,  the 
extortions  and  cruelties  with  which  the  con- 


16  BONAPARTE 

tributions  were  levied,  caufed  an  infurredion 
of  the  inhabitants  of  Cairo,  many  of  whom 
were  butchered ;  Bonaparte  reflored  order, 
and  afterwards  framed  a  new  conftitution 
for  Egypt. 

He  proceeded  to  Syria,  took  Jaffa  by  florm, 
befieged  the  fortrefs  of  Saint  Jean  d'Acre, 
defended  by  the  Enghfli  and  Turks.  After 
a  bombardment  of  fixty  days — after  many 
battles,  and  repeated  unfuccefsful  affaults, 
he  was  compelled  to  retreat  with  his  reduced 
army  to  Cairo.  He  re-polfeffed  himfelf  of 
the  fort  Aboukir,  and  prepared  clandeftinely 
to  leave  Egypt. 

Lucien  Bonaparte  had  found  means  to  keep 
up  a  correfpondencc  with  his  brother,  by  the 
way  of  England;  he  had  acquainted  him 
with  the  miferable  Rate  of  the  interior  of 
France,  and  with  the  diforganization  of  the 
armies,  every  where  defeated.  The  jealous 
directory,  far  from  lending  him  any  intelli- 
gence, endeavoured  as  much  as  they  could  to 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  17 

keep  him  in  the  mod  profound  ignorance  of 
the  political  (late  of  Europe. 

The  Englifli  knew  probably  of  his  defign 
to  quit  Egypt,  but  lufFered  him  to  do  fo,  fully 
pcrfuadcd,  that  with  the  departure  of  the  con- 
triver of  this  expedition,  the  whole  would  in- 
evitably fail.  With  a  Iquadron  of  two  frigates 
and  two  fmaller  veffels,  he  fct  fail  in  Tight  of 
theEnglifh  fleet,  on  the  23d  of  Augufl,  1799, 
after  having  appointed,  by  a  I'ealed  order, 
Klebcr  to  the  chief  command,  and  Deflfaix 
to  the  command  in  Upper  Egypt.  He  met 
but  one  Englifh  frigate  at  fea,  and  landed  at 
Ajaccio,  his  native  place,  on  the  30th  of  Sep  ■ 
tember;  after  quelling  an  infurreftion  there, 
he  haflened  to  Frejus,  and  thence  to  Paris. 
Plis  journey  rcfcmbled  a  triumph.' 

Bonaparte  found  I-'rance  in  a  mofl  deplo- 
rable flatc,  under  her  impotent  and  difunited 
dire6tory  :  fhe  vvas  pcrlians  .i.pproaching  her 
total  dillolution  :  her  broken  (inanccs  could 
no  lomjcr  be  held  un  by  \c'.\\l  extortions  and 

D 


IS  BONAPARTE 

forced    loans.      The    armies    wanted   every- 
thing-, and  were  every   where   defeated. 

The  two  dire6lors,  Barras  and  Sieyes, 
thought  to  avail  themfelves  of  his  courage, 
enterprifing  genius,  and  good  fortune,  in  or- 
der to  promote  their  diflFerent  private  views  ; 
but  the  two  brothers,  more  cunning  and  dex- 
terous in  the  purfuit  of  their  objeft,  knew 
how  to  make  the  authority  of  the  two  for- 
mer fubfervient  to  their  dcfign. 

Bonaparte  feemed  willing  to  wait  till  the 
firft  enthufiafm  of  the  people  had  fubfided  ; 
and  not  at  nil  anxious  to  avail  himfelf  of  it, 
he  was  in  fa6t  prying  into  the  fecret  flate  of 
affairs,  and  the  true  charafter  of  the  direc- 
tors and  lcadin'4  members  of  the  two  legifla- 
tive  councils.  He  was  alfo  forced  to  delay 
the  execution  of  his  plan,  till  his  brother  Lu- 
cicn  could  be  made  prefident  of  the  Council 
of  Five  Hundred. 

Sieyes    had   exerted  himfelf  in  forming  a 
kind  of  provilionary   government,  which  he 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  li' 

meant  to  truft  into  the  hands  of  fcveral  pcr- 
fons  on  whom  he  could  depend  ;  for  he  nei- 
ther thought  himfelf,  Barras,  nor  any  of  the 
five  dire£lors,  fully  capable  of  being  fole  dic- 
tator. He  relied  on  the  audacity  and  refolutc 
mind  of  Bonaparte,  who  was  to  be  fcnt  to 
Italy  to  reap  new  laurels,  after  having  rcalifed 
his  plan./  Roederer  and  Talleyrand  ferved  as 
melTengers  between  Sieves  and  Bonaparte. \ 
Only  a  few  of  the  council  of  the  ancients. 
and  of  the  five  hundred,  were  in  the  fecret. 

On  the  8th  of  Xovember,  at  the  early  hour 
of  fix  in  the  morning,  every  member  of  the 
council  of  the  ancients,  on  whom  dcpcndancc 
could  be  placed,  received  a  card  of  invitation  ; 
and  at  eight  o'clock  they  affcmbled  in  the  pa- 
lace ot  the  Tliuilleries,  where  they  decreed, 
"  That  the  legiflative  bodies  Ihould  remove  to 
St.  Cloud,  and  meet  there  the  following  morn- 
ing." General  Bonaparte  was  charged  with 
the  execution  of  this  decree  by  the  council  of 
ancients,   and  intrufled  with  the  command  oi 


20  BONAPARTE 

the  guards  of  the  legiOative  body,  with  the 

17th  divifion  of    regulars. 

A  few  hours  after,  two  addreflfes  from  Bo- 
naparte, the  one  to  the  inhabitants  of  Paris, 
the  other  to  the  foldiery,  were  fluck  up  at 
every  corner  of  the  flreets.  The  whole  tenor 
of  them  betrayed  the  hurry  in  which  they  were 
drawn  up.  In  the  addrefs  direfted  to  the  fol- 
diers,  Bonaparte  ah'eady  ventured  to  ufe  the 
following  terms  :  "  For  the  two  laft  years  the 
affairs  of  the  republic  have  been  badly  ma- 
naged. You  were  in  hopes  that  my  return 
would  put  a  flop  to  many  evils."  In  the 
council  of  ancients  he  exclaimed,  in  the  pre- 
fence  of  the  dirc6lors  Sieycsand  Roger  Ducos, 
"  We  demand  a  republic,  founded  on  the 
principles  of  liberty,  equality,  and  national  re- 
prefentadon."  Oi  the  exifting  conflitution, 
to  which  all  had  fworn.  no  mention  was  made. 
A  fmall  paniphlct  was  dehgnedly  written,  and 
diRributed  gratis,  to  cafe  the  minds  of  the 
('arifians  from  a  fear  oi  Bonaparte's  intending 


AND  THE  FRENXII  PEOPLE.  21 

to  acl  the  part  of  Caefar  or  Cromwell.  The 
council  of  five  hundred  affembled  about  noon 
at  their  wonted  place  ;  but  being  informed  of 
the  removal  of  their  fittings  to  St.  Cloud, 
and  direfted  to  aflemble  there  on  the  fol- 
lowing morning,  they  were  adviled  to  depart; 
to  which  they  fubmitted,  the  103d  article  of 
the  conflitution  authorifing  fuch  a  removal. 

The  five  hundred  afiembled  the  next  morn- 
ing at  St.  Cloud,  almoft  without  the  excep- 
tion of  a  fingle  member.  There  they  com- 
menced an  unexpected  and  violent  oppofi- 
tion,  by  taking  an  oath  for  the  maintenance 
of  the  conflitution.  Lucien  Bonaparte,  their 
prefident,  was  moft  grofsly  infulted,  and 
commanded  to  outlaw  his  brother  :  he  fhevv^- 
ed  great  felf-command,  and  difplayed  much 
eloquence,  till  the  fit  moment  of  refigning 
his  prcfidcncy  arrived. 

Napoleon  Bonaparte,  after  having  previous- 
ly made  every  preparation  for  military  fup- 
port.  entered  the  council  of  the  ancients;  but 


22  BONAPARTE 

he  did  not  find  there  fo  many  votes  in  his  fa- 
vour as  he  expected.  However,  giving  them 
to  undciftand,  that  the  God  of  war  and  his 
good  fortune  would  ftill  prote6l  him,  he  re- 
tired ;  yet,  after  his  departure,  it  was  moved, 
that  a  new  oath  fhould  be  taken  for  the  main- 
tenance of  the  conftitution. 

Lucicn  Bonaparte  had  demanded  in  the  af- 
fembly  of  the  five  hundred,  that  his  brother 
miglit  be  heard  ;  the  hitter  now  entered,  but 
was  loaded  with  abufe  and  reproaches  and  de- 
fired  to  withdraw.  Many  ocular  witnefTes 
denv  that  dacraers  were  drawn.  The  multi- 
tude  prefTcd  forward,  bitterly  inveighing 
airainfl  his  behaviour:  his  friends  furrounded 
him,  and  covered  his  retreat.  Bonaparte  then 
addreliing  the  troops  before  the  palace,  bade 
them  difpcrfc  the  mad  a'Tembly  by  force  ;  Ge- 
neral Murat.  brother  i'n  law  to  Bonaparte, 
ruflied  into  the  alFombly  at  the  head  of  the 
grenadiers.  Lucieii  had  juft  laid  down  the 
infignia  of  the  prcfident,  and  rcfigned.     Th* 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  2Z 

firft;  care  of  the  grenadiers  was  to  fccure  him  ; 
which  being  accomplifhed,  they  ordered  the 
aflTembly  to  difpcrfe  ;  they  were  not  however 
over-awed  inimcdiately.  Many  of  the  mem- 
bers addreffing  the  foldicrs,  conjured  them  in 
the  name  of  liberty  not  to  follow  their  leaders, 
who  aimed  at  the  defi.ru6lion  of  the  republic. 
General  Marat  ordered  the  drums  to  beat, 
drowniniT  thus  at   once  their   voices  and  cla~ 

o 

mours:  tired  with  their  obflinacy  lie  encircled 
the  alTembly  on  tlie  ri^ht  and  left  by  an  artful 
manocu\re,  and  the  grenadiers  drove  them 
with  the  bavonet  throu:ih  all  tlie  avenues, 
windows,  and  doors  of  the  hall. 

Bonaparte  in  the  mean  time  v/as  bufily  em- 
ployed. By  marches  and  counter-marches  he 
adroitly  kept  the  troops  in  continual  motion, 
in  order  to  avoid  their  being  corrupted.  He 
was  pre  Pent  every  whorc,  and  fpared  neither 
flatteries,  obliging  words,  nor  fpecious  pro- 
mifcs,  which  made  but  too  ilvourablc  an  irn- 
prcllion    on    the     foldicrs.  ill    provided    and 


24  BONAPARTE 

naked  as  they  were.  "  Vive  Bonaparte  !"  was 
the  general  cry,  when  their  beloved  leader 
had  finifhed  his  harangue. 

Ncverthelefs  the  unexpe61:ed  and  violent 
refi fiance  of  the  five  hundred,  had  greatly 
fhaken  him;  he  loft  his  temper;  and  con- 
trary to  his  former  cuftom  he  broke  forth  in- 
to the  moft  violent  exclamations  and  threats. 
A  captain  of  the  guards,  having  entered  the 
council,  offered  to  execute  a  decree,  bv  which 
it  was  declared,  that  the  grenadiers  were  not 
under  the  command  of  Bonaparte  ;  he  inftant- 
ly  broke  him. 

Lucicn  Bonaparte,  who  feemed  hitherto  to 

have  kept  his  temper,  now  powerfully  urged 

his  brother  to  avail   himfelf  of  the   triumph 

of  the  moment,  whilft  he  was  going  into  the 

council  of  ancients  to  refute  the  charcres  made 

o 

againft  them. 

At  night  both  the  legifiative  bodies,  who 
had  been  orever^d  from  leaving  St.  Cloud, 
afTcrnbled    a^^ain,  but    of   the   five   hundred, 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  25 

fcarcely  two  thirds  were  prefent.  The  latter 
decreed  at  laft  '•'  that  the  dire6lory  had  ceafed 
to  exifl,"  that  the  proviiional  government  of 
the  ftate  fhould  be  committed  to  Sieyes,  Roger 
Ducos,  and  General  Bonaparte :  '•'  that  the 
latter  Ihall  bear  the  title  of  conful,"  that 
twenty  five  members,  chofen  from  the  two 
legiflative  bodies  before  their  adjournment,  be 
added  to  them  as  a  fubordinate  council  of  ftate. 
The  new  confuls  took  the  ufual  oath  of 
liberty,  and  equality,  in  the-  alFcmbly  of  five 
hundred.  The  fiime  decree  met  with  op- 
pofition  in  the  council  of  ancients,  but  was 
carried  at  laft,  and  the  new  confuls  were 
fworn  in.  Tv\'o  proclamations,  the  one  from 
Bonaparte,  the  other  from  the  minifter  of 
police,  Fouche.  informed  the  people  on  the 
next  morning  of  thefe  events,  and  the  new 
jiovernment  entered  into  their  funiTtions  with- 

o 

out  further  refiftance. 

Bonaparte  had  now  r-cagj^cd  the  plenitude 
of  power  ;    thirty  millions  of  his  fc  ilow-crca- 
£ 


26  BONAPARTE 

tures  obeyed  him  :  he  was  uncontrolled  and 
fecure;  all  parties  prefTed  forward  to  join 
him  ;  tired  with  their  long,  continued  ftrifes 
and  numberlefs  diforders,  all  looked  up  to 
him,  in  the  hopes  of  fecurity  and  happinels; 
all  confided  in  the  republican  hero,  who  had 
even  attempted  to  diffeminate  knowledge  and 
freedom  through  the  deferts  of  Africa.  It 
was  a  happy  moment :  no  hero,  no  legiflator, 
in  ancient  or  modern  hiftory,  had  ever  been 
fo  fuccefsful.  All  was  prepared  ;  the  mate- 
rials of  a  glorious  conflitution  for  mankind 
were  at  hand — ready  at  the  difpofal  of  a  truly 
great  man,  who,  forgetful  of  his  own  in- 
terefl,  only  fludied  the  good  of  mankind  :  but 
Bonaparte  was  not  this  great  man — his  was 
not  this  noble  aim.  Whether  he  was  adlu- 
ated  by  that  thirfl  of  power,  by  which  men 
of  flrong  minds  and  uncontrollable  aftivity 
are  ufually  impelled ;  or  by  his  conviSion 
of  the  French  b^g  incapable  of  freedom ; 
Bonaparte  was  only  courageous  ;    having  no 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  27 

other   view   than   to   eftablifh    himfelf  folc 
ruler. 

A  new  conftitution,  as  it  was  called,  by 
which  all  public  fun6lions  were  to  be  fub- 
ordinate  to  him,  was  introduced  on  the 
15th  of  December;  by  it  all  authority  was 
vefted  in  the  hands  of  one  fingle  man. 
And  this  fame  conftitution  was  but  a  tool, 
which  he  might  lay  afide  whenever  he  chofe: 
a  legiflative  body,  without  the  power  of  im- 
pofing  laws  :  a  tribunate,  with  full  powers  to 
make  complaints,  which  the  government  had 
a  right  to  difregard  :  a  fenate,  incapable  of  en- 
forcing its  decrees — thefe  were  the  bulwarks 
againft  the  defpotifm  of  a  man,  in  whofe 
hands  all  executive  power  was  lodged,  who 
could  propofe  laws,  and  even  annihilate  at 
once  the  conftitution  altogether. 

Sieyes  becoming  importunate  with  his  ma- 
ny new  propofals  and  fpeculations,  was  fpecd- 
ily  filenced,  and  poiiticaily  killed  by  the 
weight  of  national  property;  by  the  acceptance 


2S  BONAPARTE 

and  enjoyment  of  which  he  has  loft  the  confi- 
dence oi  all  thofc  who  formerly  efteemed  him 
as  a  dilinterefted  patriot  of  incorruptible 
morals. 

Bonaparte  might  have  chofen  the  title,  by 
which  he  alone  was  to  take  the  helm  of  go- 
vernment, but  he  preferred  the  appearance 
of  republicanifm,  and  plurality  of  rulers. 
Two  confuls,  pliable  men,  expert  in  fome 
branches  of  political  ceconomy,  of  which  the 
Firll  Conful  was  totally  ignorant — Camba- 
ceres,  an  experienced  lawyer,  and  Lebrun,  a 
well  known  financier,  were  felefted  to  be  his 
coadjutors. 

For  his  minifters  and  counfellors  of  flate, 
he  choi'e,  along  with  his  two  brothers,  many 
generals  who  had  fignalized  themfclves  chiefly 
in  the  war  under  his  command ;  the  moft  dif- 
tinguilhed  of  the  writers  and  leaders  of  par- 
ties, and  even  fome  profeffional  and  learned 
men,  on  whofe  political  principles  and  entire 
fubmiffion  he  could  rely.  Many  lucrative 
places  were  given  to  noblemen  who  had  remain- 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  2§ 

ed  in  France,  even  to  emigrants,  great  numbers 
of  whom  were  foon  after  allowed  to  return. 

Thus  he  hoped  to  have  fatisfied  all  parties, 
and  this  plan  anfwcred  the  purpofe  at  firft. 
Every  one  bufy  with  his  new  place,  or  with 
comfortable  arrangements  for  the  future,  loft 
fight  of  the  proceedings  of  government.  Fo- 
reigners, who  were  not  forced  to  declare  for 
any  man,  or  any  party,  and  thus  efcaped  the 
general  rage,  could  alone  make  their  obferva- 
tions,  with  coolnefsandimpartialitv;  and  dur- 
ing the  whole  French  revolution,  they  law 
plainly,  to  the  difgrace  of  France,  that  it  was 
the  ftiuttle-cock  of  contending  parties.  The 
whole  nation  was  fometimes  led  away  by 
crafty  and  felf-interefted  politicians,  and  its 
attention  fixed  on  objefts  that  had  no  con- 
nexion with  the  real  plan  of  the  latter.  They 
went  on  with  fecuritv,  whilft  tlie  multitude 
were  zealoufly  contending  for  trifles.  They 
were  now,  however,  all  difgufted  and  exhau  fled. 
After  having  tried   every   experiment,    after 


30  BONAPARTE 

many  vain  ftruggles  for  the  attainment  of 
their  grand  point,  comfort  and  tranquillity, 
they  all  panted  for  repofe,  they  anxioufly 
looked  for  the  man  who  would  fecure  it  to 
them.  A  man,  full  of  energy,  who  had 
pufhed  himfclf  forward  in  fpite  of  all  parties 
and  impediments,  by  his  unexampled  auda- 
city :  whofe  fole  aim,  as  it  feemed,  was  to 
promote  the  real  happinefs  of  all,  could  not 
be  trufled  with  too  much  power,  as  he  might 
the  better  fatisfy  their  delires.  They  therefore 
granted  him  every  thing. 

Some  public  writers  certainly  raifed  their 
voices,  to  put  a  flop  to  this  blind  confidence 
in  one  man,  and  to  roufe  the  deluded  multi- 
tude. Lacratelle,  the  elder,  tried  to  warn  the 
new  didator.  Caefar,  faid  he,  made  himfelf 
di6tator,  and  under  this  title,  annihilated  the 
Roman  republic.  Sylla  had  before  him  availed 
himfelf  of  a  fimilar  power,  to  chaftife  the  un- 
bridled populace,  and  to  reflore  the  majefly 
of  the  fenate.     The  former  fell  a  facrifice  to 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  31 

his  ambition  during  his  diftatorihip  ;  the 
latter  refigned,  and  lived  in  peace  among 
thofe  inhabitants  who  had  been  the  witnefles 
of  his  cruelties.  Many  other  French  writers 
followed,  but  their  efforts  were  fruitlefs ;  their 
voices  were  not  heard. 

Flufhed  by  his  good  fortune :  proud  of  his 
new  dignity,  Bonaparte  thought  fit  to  write 
perfonally,  on  the  26th  of  December,  to  the 
King  of  England,  and  the  Emperor  of  Ger- 
many, without  obferving  the  ufual  forms.  He 
received  no  anfwer.  The  minifter  for  foreign 
affairs,  Talleyrand,  fenta  note  to  Lord  Gren- 
ville,  in  which,  after  taking  a  retrofpedive 
view  of  palt  events,  preliminaries  of  peace 
were  offered.  Lord  Grenville  anfwered  it, 
though  by  no  means  in  fuch  a  manner  as  to 
give  fatisfa6lion.  He  noticed  the  aggreflion 
of  France — the  unfettled  flate  of  religion — the 
neceffity  of  a  government  in  which  confidence 
might  be  placed  ;  this  language  was  highly 
difplcafing.  and  war  therefore  was  refolved  on. 


32  BONAPARTE 

Bonaparte,  in  order  to  be  able  to  aft  with 
more  energy  againil  his  foreign  enemies,  tried 
all  the  arts  of  cunning,  force,  mildnefs,  and  ri- 
gour, to  tranquilife  the  party  in  La  Vendee, 
and  to  get  rid  of  a  domeflic  enemy,  who  had 
always  been  an  unconquerable  and  formidable 
opponent.  General  Bernadotte,  v\rho  had  al- 
ready Ihewn  himfelf  a  friend,  by  keeping  his 
troops  inactive  on  the  3d  and  4th  of  O6lober, 
now  efiPeftually  aflifted  Bonaparte,  and  they 
fuccecded. 

MafTena  was  equally  fuccefsful  in  the  exe- 
cution of  his  plans  againfl  the  Auflrians  and 
Ruflians  in  Switzerland.  He  marched  for- 
ward into  Italy,  but  thought  it  prudent  to 
avoid  attacking  an  enemy  fuperior  in  force, 
and  fhut  Jiimfelf  up  in  Genoa.  Moreau 
was  more  fuccefsful ;  he  penetrated  into  the 
heart  of  Auftria,  forced  his  opponents  to 
abandon  their  plans,  and  take  fuch  pofitions 
as  he  chofe  to  affign  them  ;  and  thus  prepared 
for  Bonaparte  the  decifivc  moment  in  which 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  33 

he  might,  by  a  bold  flroke,  bring  the  whole 
to  a  final  conclufion. 

An  army  of  referve  of  30,000  confcripts 
having  been  alTembled  on  the  7th  of  March, 
near  Dijon,  and  having  increased  to  50,000 
by  the  return  of  the  Vendean  army,  and  many 
volunteers,  Bonaparte  led  them  on  in  perfon, 
and  paffed  mount  St.  Bernard.  This  pafTage 
through  the  Alps,  though  not  to  be  compared 
with  Hannibal's  famous  cnterprife,  flill  will  it 
ever  be  recorded  in  modern  hillory  as  equally 
remarkable.  Whether  we  confider  the  habits 
of  life  in  men,  their  manner  of  warfare,  and 
the  times  in  which  thefe  great  events  feverally 
took  place,  they  are  both  alike  extraordinarv. 
The  pafTages  of  the  Simplon  aaid  mount  St, 
Gotthard,  were  efFefted  at  the  fame  time.  The 
pafiTage  of  the  Po  was  forced  by  feveral  bodies 
of  troops  :  an  engagement  took  place  near 
Montobello;  and  Tortona  was  befieged  in 
confequence.  It  was  the  good  fortune  of 
Bonaparte  that  brought  General  DclTaix  from 

F 


34  BONAPARTE 

Egypt  into  his  camp.  At  this  moment  the 
polition  and  manoeuvres  of  the  enemy  on  the 
morning  of  the  14th  of  June,  1800,  pointed 
out  Marengo,  a  village  between  Tortona  and 
Alexandria,  34  the  fpotthat  was  to  decide  a  bat- 
tle for  which  Bonaparte  was  not  at  all  prepared. 
The  Auftrians  had  retreated  the  day  before, 
and  feemed  willing  to  avoid  an  engagement ; 
but  General  Melas  faw  the  French  army,  un- 
der Maffena,  approaching  very  fall  upon  him  ; 
from  another  fide,  he  was  in  danger  of  being 
between  two  fires;  he  therefore  inflantly  chang- 
ed his  refolution,  and  drew  a  mafterly  plan 
of  battle.  At  firft,  the  defeat  of  the  whole 
French  army  feemed  inevitable:  they  thought 
themfelvcs  already  vanquifhcd,  and  General 
Berthier  had  given  orders  to  found  the  re- 
treat. It  was  then  that  Bonaparte  threw 
himfclf  amidft  the  fugitives:  he  infpired  the 
officers  and  foldiers  with  new  courage,  and 
ordered  them  to  clofe  in  with  the  corps  of 
referve  juft  moving  forward,  under  the  com- 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  33 

mand  of  General  Deffaix.       Convinced  that 
every  thing    dear  to  him  depended   on  the 
ifTue  of  this  battle,  he  expofed  his  life  to  the 
mofl;  imminent  danger,  amidfl  the  thunder  of 
the  enemy's  cannon ;  animating   the  foldiers 
by  his  example.  The  artillery  of  the  Auftrians 
and  their  cavalry,  were  much  fuperior  to  thofe 
of  the  French  :     the  latter  had  only  thirteen 
field-pieces  with  them,  ten  of  which  they  had 
lofh  during  the  battle.     The  body  of  referve, 
with  General  Deffaix  at  their  head,  marched 
forward  with  their  bayonets  fixed,  protefted 
by  the   three  remaining    field-pieces.     In  a 
fhort  time  they  had  repoffeffed  themfelvcs  of 
fix  field-pieces.     Whilft  in  the  acl  of  retak- 
ing a  fevcnth,   General  Deffaix  fell  mortally 
wounded.     "  Cachcz  via   mort  aux  fuldats," 
faid  he  to  his  aides-de-camp ;  and  foon  after, 
as  he  was  expiring,  he  added,    '•  Go,  tell  the 
Firft   Coniu],  that   I  die  with  regret  for  not 
having  fignalized  myfelf  fufficiently  to  hand 
down  my  name  to  poflerity."  Thus  the  greaf- 


3t>  BONAPARTE 

prefence  of  mind  of  this  heroic  warrior,  with 
the  pevfonal  bravery  of  Bonaparte,  and  the 
undaunted  firmnefs  of  the  confular  guard, 
which  flood  immovable  like  a:  rock,  in  the 
midfl;  of  the  field  of  battle,  turned  the  fcale, 
and  the  advantage  remained  on  the  fide  of  the 
French,  till  night  put  an  end  to  the  flaughter. 
Still  victory  did  not  feem  to  be  decided: 
Bonaparte  looked  forward  to  a  new  attack 
on  the  next  morning  as  certain.  His  fur- 
prife  and  allonifhment  were  the  greater, 
when  the  Auftrian  general  offered  terms,  and 
fhewed  himfclf  anxious  for  a  convention  even 
on  the  mofl  difadvantageous  terms  ;  by  which 
an  armiflice  was  certainly  fettled;  but  all  for- 
tified places  between  the  Po,  Oglio,  and 
Chiefa,  were  ceded  to  the  French.  Genoa,  Pied- 
mont, and  Lombardy  were  again  fet  free.  Bona- 
parte haflcned  to  Milan,  where  his  vi6lorious 
entry  afforded  great  fatisfa6lion  to  the  friends 
of  jacobinifm,  to  whom  his  defeat  had  al- 
ready been  announced.     A  grand  Te  Dcim 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  37 

was  celebrated  to  his  honour  in  the  cathedral 
of  Milan.  His  ftafF  accompanied  him.  When 
the  priefls  aflccd  him  in  what  manner  he  chofe 
to  be  received,  he  replied  inftantly,  come 
I'imperatore,  (like  the  emperor). 

Bonaparte  appointed  a  provifional  govern- 
ment for  the  Cifalpine  republic  on  the  fpot,. 
and  returned  through  Lyons,  where  he  com- 
manded the  flrcets  and  fquares  to  be  rebuilt 
which  had  been  reduced  to  afhes,  during  the 
reign  of  terrorifm.  He  himfelf  laid  the  firfl; 
ftone  of  the  new  buildings  of  the  fquare  Bel- 
lecour,  which  name  was  changed  into  that  of 
Bonaparte.  He  arrived  at  Paris  two  days  be- 
fore he  was  expetled,  and  thus  avoided  the 
ceremonies  of  a  triumphal  entry,  which  had 
been  decreed  him. 

On  the  following  day  he  received  the  con- 
gratulatory addrelTes  of  the  conftituted  autho- 
rities, of  the  national  inflitute,  and  the  fe- 
veral  adminiftrations.  All  the  houfes  at  Paris 
-^vere    illuminated     five    nights     fucccffively. 


3^  BONAPARTE 

Plays  and  other  amufements  in  celebration  of 
this  great  vi6tory  were  given  in  all  the  theatres 
of  Paris.  The  exultation  was  general,  and  all 
were  in  great  hopes  for  the  future.  The  fplen- 
did  victories  which  were  obtained  by  Moreau 
in  Germany,  ftill  more  increafed  the  hopes  of 
a  general  peace.  On  the  14th  of  July,  the  an- 
nivcrfary  of  the  revolution,  all  ieemed  enrap- 
tured with  their  viQory  and  vi6lorious  leader. 
1'hc  revolution  and  its  objeft  v/ere  entirely 
forgotten.  Grand  procellions,  entertainments, 
prize-fighting,  running  matches,  &c.  attra6led 
the  attention  of  the  Parifian  multitude.  Bona- 
parte and  his  whole  family  were  among  the 
fpe6fators.  The  firfl  (lone  of  a  national  monu- 
ment, in  remembrance  of  the  mofl  important 
occurrences,  during  the  revolution,  was  laid  on 
this  day,  as  was  likcwife  that  of  a  monument 
in  memory  of  the  brave  General  Defiaix,  to 
whom  Bonaparte  chiefly  owed  that  fuccefs^ 
which  filled  them  all  with  rapture* 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  39 

The  republican  writers  availed  themfelves 
of  this  opportunity  to  remind  the  Conful 
of  his  duties.  Many  of  them  fpoke  boldly, 
knowing  how  far  the  enthufiafm  of  gratitude 
can  ,lead  a  noble  heart,  and  fearing,  left  he 
ihould  give  way  to  the  lufl  of  power  vvliich 
too  foon  dazzles  triumphant  heroes,  they 
particularly  demanded  tlie  liberty  of  theprers\ 
They  warned  Bonaparte  not  to  liflcn  to  thofe 
who  fhould  endeavour  to  infpire  him  with  pre- 
judices fatal  to  the  friends  of  rcpublicanifm. 
Daunau,  Jean  de  Brie,  Conftant,  Rioufte, 
(fingucnct,  joined  in  thefc  remonflrances. 
Bonaparte  and  his  partifans  ufed  the  means  to 
fliile  the  public  voice  ;  they  had  already  pro- 
hibited all  patriotic  newspapers :  by  their  or- 
der many  of  the  publifhers  and  printers  of 
tliem  were  fent  to  prifon,  after  having  fccn  their 
oflices  deftroyed,  and  their  printing  machines 
taken  away.  A  fmall  number  of  the  form.cr 
political  journals  flill  exiftcd ;  yet  they  were 
clofcly  watched  by  the  police.     Some  public 


40  BONAPARTE 

papers,  in  the  pay  of  government,  let  up 
againft  them.  They  recalled  the  old  conftitu- 
tion,  by  which  they  underftood  nothing  Icfs 
than  the  introduftion  of  all  the  terrors  of  for- 
mer defpotifm,  and  of  all  former  intolerance  in 
matters  of  opinion.  The  priefts  and  emigrants 
now  returning  in  numbers,  anxious  to  re-efla- 
blifh  their  wonted  afcendancy  and  their  prero- 
gatives, joined  thefe  hirelings.  They  began 
with  mveighing  againft  Voltaire,  Rouileau. 
Raynal,  Montefquieu,  Mably  and  other  wri- 
ters, who  had  dared  to  expofe  the  follies  and 
abufes  of  former  times.  They  ftyled  them 
indifcriminately,  atheifts,  blafphemers,  diftur- 
bers  of  the  public  tranquillity.  The  family 
of  Bonaparte  was  highly  pieafed,  to  fee  thefe 
old  experienced  knights  ftand  forward  as 
champions  in  their  caufe,  they  gave  them  full 
fcope,  being  fure  to  come  in  for  the  harveft 
before  them. 

Surrounded  by  a  fufficient  number  of  new 
hirelings,  Bonaparte  felt  himfelf  confident  that 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  41 

he  was  able  to  fend  them  out  of  the  way,  or 
to  annihilate  them,  if  they  dared  to  be  too  loud 
and  bufy.  Many  of  the  old  nobility,  that  had 
remained  in  France,  during  the  revolution,  and 
had  merited  well  of  the  country,  were  appoint- 
ed to  profitable  places  under  the  new  admi- 
niflration.  The  latter  took  great  care  at  the 
fame  time  to  occupy  a  number  of  the  returned 
emigrants,  by  providing  them  with  honoura- 
ble employments  in  the  provinces. 

The  new  created  dignities  of  prefc6ls,  in 
the  feveral  departments,  who  were  to  be  one 
hundred  in  number,  befides  four  hundred  un- 
derprefefts,  afforded  him  the  opportunity  of 
doing  fo.  The  new  adminiflration  was  in 
hopes  to  find  thefe  unfortunate  exiles  faithful 
and  fubmiflive  fervants,  who,  after  having  been 
worn  out  with  continual  fatigue  abroad,  owed 
their  fccurity  and  comfort  to  its  kindnefs  ; 
fuch  were  Lameth,  Mounier,  Rabaut,  Pomicr, 
Duclos,  and  men  of  a  fimilar  charafter. 

Yet  the  number  of  emigrants,  chiefly  noble- 
G 


42  BONAPARTE 

men  and  priefls,  who  had  ventured  to  rctuin 
fince  the  folemn  promife  of  government,  to 
clofe  the  Hfls  of  profcription,  and  to  erafe  all 
names  of  innocent  perfons,  was  unexpeftedly 
great.  Many  of  them  looked  forward  to  no- 
thing lefs  than  the  complete  recovery  of  their 
cilates,  and  former  dignities,  and  becam-e  ac- 
cording to  French  cuftom,  rather  too  noify, 
when  government  fecmed  unmindful  of  them. 
Some  of  the  old  nobility,  who  were  known  to 
have  carried  arms  againft  their  native  country, 
and  therefore  excluded  from  the  general  am- 
nelly,  by  a  particular  providon,  infilled  often 
with  great  violence  on  the  erafure  of  their 
names  from  the  lift.  Others  u^ent  flillfarthcr; 
without  even  applying  for  the  erafure  of" 
their  names,  they  inflantly  went  about  to  re- 
cover their  former  cftates  by  artful  means,  and 
fomctimes  even  by  force.  The  returned  priefls 
had  already  begun  publicly  to  condemn  all 
thofe  who  had  purchafed  luch  national  pro- 
perty ;  and  the  tears  of  its  prefent  pofTeflbrs 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  43 

were  thus  raifed  to  a  high  degree.  The  ad- 
miniflration  now  thought  it  time  to  inter- 
fere, and  to  eftabhfh  a  fpecial  committee 
to  decide  on  the  merits  of  all  claims  of  pro- 
perty made  by  emigrants,  and  revife  the  lifts 
of  profcription,  which  ftill  contained  i0O;00O 
names. 

An  honefl;  member  (Lafalle),  feeing  the 
confufed  and  illegal  manner  in  which  it  pro- 
ceeded, found  it  expedient  to  refign  ;  he  laid 
his  reafons  for  fo  doing  before  the  public, 
who  were  informed,  by  thefe  means,  of  the- 
procedures  of  this  committee.  Its  aim  to  fpin 
out  this  matter  to  a  great  length,  and  to  per- 
plex it,  became  evident :  24,000  different 
claims  were  already  lodged  with  their  com- 
mittee; but  it  was  ftill  thought  proper  to  in- 
creafc  this  number,  by  bringing  in  the  claims 
of  the  poor  peafants  from  the  Rhine,  who  had 
been  driven  away  by  the  horrors  oi  war;  8000 
of  whom  had  already  petitioned  for  tlicir  pro- 
perty, v/hich  was  left  to  the  deciiion  of  this  com- 


44  BONAPARTE 

mittee,  of  which  the  prefefts  of  the  depart- 
ments of  the  Rhine  were  certainly  much  better 
judges,  being  acquainted  with  all  the  local 
circumftances. 

The  report  made  by  the  refigning  member, 
Lafalle,  on  this  head,  contains  the  following 
remarkable  paffages  :  "  The  longer  this  com- 
mittee lafts,  and  the  more  its  members  may 
increafe  in  number,  the  lefs  power  will  it  have 
to  refifl  machination  and  intrigue.  Bona- 
parte may  be  able  to  conquer,  and  reftore 
peace,  but  from  the  prefent  decline  of  all 
public  morality — from  the  fhameful  illibe- 
rality  that  pervades  all  ranks,  and  from  our  na- 
tional prejudices,  Bonaparte  will  find  it  a  hard 
tafk  to  felc61;  thirty  men  capable  of  executing 
this  important  charge  in  a  dignified  manner." 
He  folcmnly  afks  the  difcontinuancc  of  the 
committee,  and  the  putting  a  flop  to  all  emi- 
grant claims.  "  The  tardinefs,"  he  added, 
"  obfervcd  in  all  thefc  procedures,  and  their 
very  nature  mufl  prove  baneful  to  fociety.   Ci- 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  ^:, 

tizens,  hitherto  honeft  men,  grow  accuftomcd 
to  atteft  fa£ts  upon  oath,  the  falfehood  of 
which  is  well  known  to  them.  Public  officers 
get  the  habit  of  allowing  (uch  fcandalous 
tranfa£lions.  According  to  a  late  decree  of 
the  confuls,  no  pofl'effions  or  edatcs,  already 
become  national  property,  can  be  reftorcd  to 
emigrants  erafed  from  the  lifts  :  but  that  emi- 
grant who  is  mofl  guilty  in  the  eye  of  the 
law,  for  having  carried  arms  againft  his  own 
country,  mufl;  be  looked  upon  as  the  mol], 
dangerous  by  all  politicians,  for  he  will  not 
brook  the  feizure  of  his  property.  He  fmks 
into  the  clafs  of  thole  who  have  nothinfi  to 
lofe,  and  grows  the  more  dangerous  as  lie  is 
fpurred  on  by  revenge  :  his  relations,  his 
creditors,  and  all  thofe  who  claim  ajointpof- 
feffion  of  his  eftates,  or  a  fucccfTion  to  them, 
will  naturally  form  one  party  with  him. 

It  will  be  feen  hereafter  that  this  honed 
man  was  right  in  his  predictions.  P.v  the 
Lift  decree    of  the   adminiRrntion    rcrpcclin,;; 


46  BON^\PARTE 

thefe  claims,  it  was  finally  determined  that 
all  perfons,  who  had  been  leaders  of  French 
troops,  fighting  againfl  their  own  country ; 
who  had  accepted  of  any  military  degree  in 
the  armies  of  the  enemy  ;  who  had  continued 
in  the  private  fervices  of  French  princes  dur- 
ing the  revolution  ;  who  had  been  the  authors 
and  promoters  of  civil  and  foreign  war  ;  who, 
being  reprefentatives  of  the  people,  had  been 
found  guilty  of  high  treafon ;  and,  laflly,  all 
archbifhops  and  bifliops,  who  would  not  fub- 
mit  to  the  terms  offered,  fhould  be  excluded 
from  the  benefits  of  the  general  amnefly,  and 
be  prohibited  the  territory  of  the  republic, 
under  pain  of  death  or  deportation. 

The  republican  inhabitants  were  furprifed 
in  another  Vv^ay,  namely,  by  fpecial  orders, 
which  feemcd  to  announce  greater  attempts  : 
the  refloring  the  religious  obfervance  of  the 
Sunday ;  though,  by  a  particular  law,  the 
officers  of  government  were  ftill  obliged  to 
keep    the    decades   only  ; — the  permiflion   to 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  47 

celebrate  marriages  on  any  day  of  the  v\-cck, 
and  no  longer  on  the  day  of  the  decade  cx- 
clufively  : — the  feveral  regulations  concerning 
the  duties  and  fan6lions  of  the  preic6ls  of 
police,  with  refpeCl  to  their  faperintendance 
of  gambling  houfes,  brothels,  and  other  places 
of  infamy,  which  according  to  law  fiiould 
not  be  fafFered  at  all  : — the  new  regulations 
about  public  fchcols,  and  the  printing  and 
publiftiing  of  books,  by  which  the  liberty  of 
the  prefs  was  annihilated: all  thefe  en- 
croachments on  former  eflabliihments  and 
principles,  raifed  fufpicion  and  millruft 
among  the  true  republicans;  nor  were  they 
much  pleafcd  when  they  faw,  that  the  re- 
mains of  the  Marfhal  Turenne  were  to  be  de- 
pofited  with  great  folemnity  in  the  temple  of 
Mars,  at  Paris,  on  the  very  day  when  Bona- 
parte was  to  lay  the  firfl  flone  of  a  monument 
to  the  memory  of  the  late. generals,  DefTaix  and 
Kleber.  who  died  on  the  fame  day,  and  at  the 
'amr  hour.     It  v/as  rcrtainlv  fom.c  confol.ition 


48  BONAPARTE 

to  thefe  republicans  to  find,  that  the  play  of 
TartufFe,  from  Moliere,  had  been  chofen  for  a 
free  night  by  the  managers  of  the  theatre,  in 
fpite  of  the  priefls ;  for  they  were  in  hopes 
that  the  Firfl  Conful,  who  was  prefent,  would 
take  the  hint  in  future,  and  become  more  cir- 
cumfpeGt  towards  the  Roman  Catholic  clergy. 
They  relied  on  it  with  confidence  as  it  was  his 
favorite  play  :  the  Cid  of  Corneilie  was  repre- 
fented  at  the  fame  time.  The  crowd  at  the 
theatre  was  prodigious  ;  every  corner  and  en- 
trance of  the  houfc  were  filled,  and  many 
were  in  danger  of  being  flifled  by  the  multi- 
tude continually  prefTmg  on.  This  caufed 
many  humane  and  patriotic  citizens  to  ere6l  a 
temporary  building,  like  the  amphitheatres  of 
old,  where  a  lafling  impreffion  might  be  made 
on  the  public  mind,  by  grand  national  repre- 
fentations,  breathing  the  fpirit  of  patriotifm  and 
liberty.  The  views  of  Bonaparte,  however,were 
very  different ;  and  the  reader  will  foon  learn  in 
what  manner  thefe  republican  feafls  were  re- 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  4!J 

flucedby  himtochatkind  of  amufement,  which 
the  old  court  of  France  formerly  ufed  to  pre- 
pare for  the  populace.  For  the  prefent,  they 
all  rejoiced  in  harmlefs  fecurity  ;  and  the 
more  fo,  as  the  figning  of  the  preliminaries 
of  peace  with  Auflria  was  publicly  announ- 
ced, by  order  of  government,  on  that  very 
evening,  and  the  articles  read  to  the  public 
by  the  light  of  torches.  Government  itfelf 
feemed  without  fear  after  witneiling  the  ge- 
neral fatisfaftion  of  the  people.  Soon  after, 
when  the  dilcovery  of  a  plot  againfl  the  life 
of  the  FirR  Coiilul  was  laid  to  have  been 
made,  only  Coriicans,  or  Italians,  were  im- 
plicated. The  brother  of  a  man  of  the  name 
of  Arena,  who  had  been  fufpefctcd  before  of 
intending  to  murder  the  Firfl  Conful,  on  the 

i8th    Brumaire    (fourth  of  November.)    was 
taken  up  with  Cerachi,    Fopino,  Dcrmerville, 

Diana,  and  others,  and  all  lent  to  the  Temple. 

Many  people  doubted  indeed  the  reality  of 

Tuch  a  plot,  and  vrere  of  opinion  th»!t  the  in- 


aO  BONAPARTE 

tended  murder  of  Bonaparte  on  the  i8th  of 
Vendemiaire  (tenth  of  October.)  at  the  Opera- 
houfe,  was  nothing  but  an  invention,  in  order 
to'  get  rid  of  fome  troublefome  and  fufpcfted 
foreigners ;  but  the  afiFair  of  the  infernal  ma- 
chine proved  the  exiftence  of  a  plot  againfl 
the  life  of  Bonaparte.  He,  with  the  gene- 
ral and  adjutants  in  his  coach,  efcaped  death 
by  a  kind  of  miracle.  He  owed  the  prcfer- 
vation  of  his  life  to  the  drunken  cofkage  of 
his  coachman,  who  drove  in  full  gallop 
through  the  narrow  ftreet,  when  it  was  block- 
ed up  by  the  cart  containing  the  infernal 
machine,  and  when  there  feemed  to  be  no 
pofTibility  ot  pafTmg :  the  coach  had  fcarcely 
pafTcd  by,  when  the  machine  blew  up.  By 
the  explofion,  the  houfes  near  the  fpot  were 
much  damaged;  andby  the  contents  of  it,  chief- 
ly confiding  ot  lead  and  iron,  many  innocent 
perfons  were  killed  or  wounded  in  the  flreet. 
The  Corficans  and  Italians  imprifoned  in  the 
Temple,  and  their  partifans,  were  again  fuf- 


AND  THE  TRENCH  PEOPLE.  5 1 

pcfted  as  the  authors  of  this  plot.  They  were 
now  tried  on  their  firft  accufation  ;  and  a 
court  which  was  declared  illegal  and  inad- 
miflible  by  the  prifoncrs  and  their  counfc^s, 
palled  fentence  of  death  on  Arena,  Tapino, 
Lcbrund,   and   Dermerville. 

The  adminiftration  took  advantage  of  this 
opportunity  to  introduce  a  law,  by  which 
it  was  fully  authorifed  to  order  and  cflablifli 
fpecial  tribunals  in  the  departments,  when- 
ever they  chofe. 

Thefe  tribunals  were  to  be  compofed  of 
judges  and  military  perfons ;  but  the  Firft 
Conful  had  the  choice  and  appointment  of 
them.  They  were  to  decide  on  all  mifde- 
meanors  and  crimes  {^crimes  ct  ddils)  for  which 
any  difhonorable  bodily  chaftifement  might 
be  infli6led  : — they  were  to  try  all  perfons 
accufed  of  theft,  burglary,  and  violence,  if 
committed  with  the  affillance  ot  one  or  more 
perfons  : — thev  were  to  take  cognizance  of 
murder,   coining,    threats  uttered  ag^<infl;  the 


5'2  BOXAPARTr, 

purchaleis  of  national  property,  of  cxcciitii 
and  aflaults  committed  on  them,  and  of  in- 
cendiaries ;  and  they  were  to  proceed  againfl 
all  perfons  acculed  of  fecretly  engaging 
troops,  or  ot  bribing  and  endeavouring  to  cor- 
rupt the  foldiers  and  confcripts,  or  excite  them 
to  revolt:  they  were  to  inquire  intjo  all  tu- 
mults, and  to  proceed  againfl  all  perfons  taken 
up  in  the  a6t  of  noting  ;  laflly,  they  were  au- 
thorifed  to  try  all  thofc  perfons  who  were  al- 
ready in  prifon  on  fuch  charges.  This  new 
law,  by  which  government  was  empowered  to 
deprive  the  accufed  citizens  of  that  proteftion 
which  the  glorious  inflitution  of  juries  affords 
to  the  innocent — by  which  it  was  permitted  to 
fubjecl  them  to  an  abominable  court,  wholly 
dependent  on  the  arbitrary  will  ol  government, 
yet  hdiy  authorifed  to  lake  cognizance  of  al- 
moft  every  crime ;  met  with  lome  refift- 
ance  from  the  tribunate,  whofe  duty  it  was  to 
guard  againfl  all  arbitrary  proceedings,  by 
v;hich  the  fate ty  of  the  people  might  be  en- 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  53 

dangered.  Thirteen  orators  fpoke  againft  it, 
forty-one  oppofcd  it  by  their  vote,  and  it  was 
carried  only  by  a  majority  of  eight. 

A  counfcUor  of  flate,  in  the  pay  of  govern- 
ment and  its  zealous  defender,  wrote  a  pam- 
phlet againfl  the  oppofing  members  of  the 
tribunate,  who  had  dared  to  check  govern- 
inent  in  its  defpotic  attempts  :  he  inveighed 
againft  them,  in  the  moft  outrageous  and  in- 
decent manner — he  expofed  them  as  known 
difturbers  of  public  peace  and  tranquillit)', 
and  publiilicd  their  names  ;  but  thofe  very 
names  bore  witnefs  againft  him. 

Bonaparte  expreiled  himfelf  with  acrimony 
on  this  firft  oppohtion  to  his  rafh  attempts,  and 
became  lufpe6lcd  of  having  a  fliare  in  thefc 
perfonal  indecent  attacks.  His  very  exiftencc 
had  been  ftiaken  by  the  terrible  explofionof  the 
infernal  machine  :  he  became  quite  another 
man,  in  his  public  life,  fince  that  dreadful 
d;vy  :  he  fc^cmed  now  to  tjive  way  to  his  true 
•  i.y.ural     dirDofition  ;    his     niiftruft    of     the 


54  BONAPARTE 

French  nation,  whofe  chara6ler  is  quite  the 
levcrfe  of  his  own,  which  he  formerly  ufed  to 
conceal  with  great  care;  his  early  imbibed 
averfion  to  Frenchmen,  which  had  been 
llrengthened  during  the  revolution,  was  in  ma- 
ny inflances  too  glaring.  In  all  his  public  a61:s, 
he  betrayed  nothing  but  a  deep  knowledge, 
and  a  careful  calculation  of  the  folly  and  de- 
pravity of  this  equally  unthinking  and  cruel 
people.  His  moderation  in  the  fittings  of 
council,  on  which  the  newfpaper  writers,  in  the 
pay  of  government,  and  the  fenators  of  his 
party,  never  ceafed  to  pafs  their  fervile  eulo- 
gium,  now  defertcd  him  intirely.  Hitherto  he 
had  ftudied  his  men  :  he  be$<an  now  to  an- 
nounce  his  will  like  a  mafler,  and  to  enforce 
obedience.  His  whole  conducl  to  thofe  about 
hirn  was  wholly  changed;  he  ufed  formerly  to 
behave,  if  not  in  a  popular,  at  lead  in  a  friend- 
ly manner,  towards  military  men  and  artifls  ; 
and  all  thole  who  had,  at  any  time,  fignalized 
themfeives  by  their  learning.   Many  of  the  lat- 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  55 

ter  had  free  accefs  to  him,  and  were  often  in- 
vited to  dinner.  Towards  foreigners  he  had 
been  generally  civil  and  hofpitable :  there  was 
no  great  formality  required  for  them  to  be  in- 
troduced, and  they  were  often  invited  into  his 
company.  The  good  people  took  thefe  things 
as  proofs  of  a  liberal  and  enlightened  mind, 
and  of  a  noble  inclination  to  promote  know- 
ledge and  morality. 

The  depraved  chara6lcr  of  thofe  who  fur- 
rounded  him,  though  generally  known,  was  not 
fufficicnt  to  deflroy  the  good  opinion  enter- 
tained of  him ;  on  the  contrary,  when  the 
people  Qw  that  he  promoted  the  ablefl  and 
mod  honcft  men  of  all  ranks  and  parties,  to 
places  of  importance  and  truft,  they  began  to 
look  on  him  as  a  great  flatefman,  whofe  fupe- 
rior  sjenius  led  him  to  avail  himfelf  of  every 
talent,  and  fo  counterbalance  the  mofl:  immoral 
and  diiTolute  with  the  virtuous,  that  they 
were  compelled  to  promote  the  general  good. 
-\11  men  hoped  for  the  reconriJiation  and  union 


65  BONAPARTE 

of  parties,  in  order  to  fccure  a  free  and  happy 
conflitution  for  France;  but  Bonaparte  was 
perhaps  endeavouring  all  along  to  unhinge 
them,  and  to  refcind  all  poflibility  of  effec- 
tual refinance,  by  thus  intermixing  the  moft 
incongruous  chara61:ers  in  one  body. 

The  author  of  an  hiftorical  defcription  of 
Paris,  made  on  that  occafion  fome  juft  re- 
marks. After  having  noticed  fome  fcanda- 
lous  anecdotes,  to  the  difgrace  of  many  mem- 
bers of  adminiftration,  which  the  newfpapers 
and  journals  palfed  over  in  filence,  he  adds 
the  following  remarkable  words  concerning 
Bonaparte  :  "  lie  that  would  blame  the  Firfl 
Conful  for  giving  his  confidence  to  fuch  men, 
mud  certainly  be  unacquainted  with  that  pitch 
of  immorality  to  which  the  nation  is  driven  ; 
he  mud  be  ignorant  of  the  impoffibility  of 
finding  only  a  fmall  number  of  men,  Vvlio 
unite  an  unbleiniflied  moral  charader  with 
great  and  fuperior  talents.  This  union  is 
rarely  to  be  found:  and  it  one  of  the  two  can 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  57 

ever  be  fpared,  it  is  certainly  not  the  poireffion 
of  fupcrior  talents  in  thofe  who  are  to  rule  a 
great  empire." 

Bonaparte  made  it  his  particular  ftudy  from 
the  beginning,  to  gain  the  good  opinion  of 
all  men  of  genius,  certain,  that  by  feciiring 
their  voice,  he  would  have  the  fuIFrage  of  all. 
Being  himfcif  one  of  the  mofl  extraordinary 
men,  the  darling  of  good  fortune,  at  the  head 
of  a  people,  ever  prone  toexcefs  in  adulation, 
and  proud  of  their  rulers,  it  was  no  wonder 
that  fulfomc  praifcs  and  exultations  refounded 
Ironi  all  qTiavLcrs.  Foreigners,  taking  tha 
nevvfpapers  and  journals  as  the  general  in- 
terpreters of  public  opinion,  were  often  led  to 
think  the  entliuiiafm  for  Bonaparte  was  uni- 
verfal ;  but  a  fliort  refidsncc  at  Paris,  and 
the  vifiting  public  places  of  rcfort,  or  mixed 
Ibcieties,  would  foon  convince  tliem  of  their 
error.  IVjiiaparte  is  by  no  means  popular. — 
He  is  cold  and  refervcd — he  knows  not  how 
to  infpire  affcclion  ;  a  formal,  caic fully  rcgu- 
T 


58  BONAPARTE 

lated  deference  and  lefpeft  are  fhcvvn  him  : 
and  he  Hands  the  more  firm  on  that  very  ac- 
count. He  is  not  one  of  thofc  idols  raifed  by 
the  voice  oi  the  people,  commonly  trampled 
upon  with  as  little  and  as  unexpected  ceremo- 
ny, as  when  firfl  raifed  to  unlimited  povvcr :  he 
owes  his  rife  to  himfelf  alone,  and  appears,  for 
that  very  reafon,  to  the  multitude,  as  a  fupe- 
rior  being.  The  cxceffivc authority  ot  which  he 
is  poffelled,  baniflies  all  familiarity  even  from 
thofe  who  are  next  to  him  in  power.  lie  has 
few  enemies,  an  immenfe  number  of  partizans, 
and  hardly  a  hiij^le  friend.  There  is  no  caufe 
at  prcfent  by  which  the  enthufiafm  of  the 
people  can  polhbly  be  railed.  None  oi  the 
parties  can  be  faid  to  rule;  none  of  them  are 
fupprelfed  :  they  are  mixed  one  with  another 
in  fuch  a  manner,  that  it  is  difficult  to  decide 
which  of  them  enjoys  the  greatefl  inlluencc  ; 
he  therefore  does  not  confider  himlelf  de- 
pendent on  their  will.  The  principal  loaders 
of  the  jacobin  party    have  received  a  bribe 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLK.  50 

from  government,  and  have  delcrted  their 
flock  :  their  generals  have  changed  fides — 
General  Jourdan,  in  Piedmont,  Fouche,  the 
Mitnflerof  Police  at  Paris,  and  Dubois,  arc 
hving  proofs  of  this  aflertion.  The  whole 
party  is  torn  afundcr,  and  will  fcarccly  ever 
be  able  to  re-eflablifh  itfclf  Many  of  the 
royal ifls  have  degraded  themfelves  by  accept- 
ing offices  under  the  prefent  government, 
though  in  their  heart  they  defpifc  the  Cor- 
fican.  Without  any  pretenfions  to  nobility,  he 
has  dared  to  appropriate  to  himfclf  the  honors 
appertaining  to  noble  defcent  only,  and  now 
^fivcs  himfelf  the  airs  of  a  monarch  on  a 
throne,  which  could  only  be  filled  in  a  digni- 
fied manner  by  the  dcfcendants  of  royal  an- 
ceftors.  They  conceal  their  inward  convic- 
tion ;  and  incurable  of  their  vain  hopes,  they 
look  upon  every  thing,  and  every  proceeding, 
as  a  preparatory  ilep  to  realife  a  grand  general 
plan,  drawn  up  and  fecretly  purfued  by  Bona- 
parte himfelf,  in  order  that  he  may  one  day 


60  BONAPARTE 

be  able  to  reftorc  Fiance  to  her  lawful  Ibve- 
relgn,  and  to  reinflate  every  thing,  and  parti- 
cularly the  nobility  into  their  former  dignities. 
The  fmall  party  of  the  republicans  have  at  laft 
been  cured  of  their  illufory  hope  of  infpiring 
the  nation  with  a  true  republican  fpirit ; 
they  relax  more  and  more  in  their  demands 
from  their  government,  and  judge  with  in- 
dulgence, without  being  much  ofFended  at  the 
re-introdu61;ion  of  court  etiquette,  the  cring- 
ing fubmiffion  of  the  new  made  courtiers  to 
their  mailers,  and  their  infolence  to  others. 
The  group  of  thofe  who  look  in  general  on 
all  conflitutions  with  indifference,  and  only 
judge  of  events  by  their  refults.  comparative- 
ly find  no  great  matter  of  complaint,  and  en- 
joy a  tranquillity  unknown  to  them  for  a  long 
ferics  of  years.  The  inflitution  of  prcfefts  in 
the  departments,  was  of  great  benefit  at  firfl; 
the  members  of  the  executive  power  through- 
out the  republic,  fhewcd  an  unanimous  zeal  to 
]iro:note  the  general  quiet.     The  prefe6ls  and 


AND  THE  rRENCH  PEOPLK.  61 

under-prcrccls  of  fcveral  departments  vied 
with  each  other  in  the  flrift  performance  of 
their  duty.  The  taxes  were  regularly  paid, 
and  fome  departments  were  even  able  to  dit- 
charge  their  arrears.  It  would  be  folly  to  de- 
clare the  fmanccs  of  France  to  have  been 
in  a  piofperous  (late,  but  it  mufl  be  owned 
that  a  temporary  flop  was  put  to  their  fur- 
ther decline. 

They  were  at  this  period  fo  flourifhing, 
that  the  expcnccs  of  the  republic  could  be 
defrayed  without  a  loan  :  they  even  begun  to 
diichargc  the  arrears  in  pcnfions  and  pay- 
ment of  the  troops.  The  army,  efpccially 
that  of  Moreau,  was  well  provided;  the  pro- 
felTion  of  a  loldier  was  again  looked  upon  as 
honorable;  defertions  in  the  interior  of  France 
were  lefs  frequent,  and  the  railing  of  recruits 
and  confcripts  niore  cafily  eflcftcd.  Such 
was  the  ftatc  of  France.  Bonaparte  now  felt 
himfelf  fecure  ;  he  liad  no  further  need  of 
tliat  air  ol  moderation  ai:d  cenerohlv.  which, 


62  IJONAPARTE 

contrary  to  his  natural  chara6lcr,  he  had  hi- 
therto affccled.  One  violent  mcafure,  flrikin^j 
the  minds  of  all,  and  filling  them  with  terror, 
by  which  tJie  flate  was  about  to  be  freed  of 
fcvcral  monflers,  tlic  notorious  inllrumcnts  of 
all  the  crimes  perpetrated  during  the  revo- 
lution, whofe  exiflence  was  incompatible 
with  the  public  peace  and  fecurity  of  go- 
vernment, appeared  at  this  time  expedient 
to  be  adopted  by  Bonaparte. 

In  fpite  of  the  oppofition  which  his  propo- 
fal  for  a  general  deportation  of  all  doubtful 
perfons  in  France,  met  with  in  the  Senate, 
five  and  twenty  votes  being  again  It  the  mca- 
fure,  it  was  decreed  at  once  to  deport  one 
hundred  and  thirty  French  citizens  who  were 
thoutiht  danfj^crous.  Tlio  con fervativc  Senate, 
where  Sieves  very  zealoufly  flrovc  to  promote 
this  defpotic  rv  folution,  declared  it  by  a  fpc- 
cial  \'ote,  to  be  a  conlervative  meaiui'e  of  the 
conflitution,  (une  mehire  confervativc  de  la 
conflitution.) 


AND  THE  TRENCn  PEOPLE.  63 

A  tranquil  obfervcr  of  the  French  revolu- 
tion, made  at  that  period  the  following  re- 
mark on  this  arbitrary  proceeding  :  '•  It  is 
ever  (faid  he)  a  great  misfortune  when  a 
government  is  compelled  to  depart  from  ef- 
tabliflied  forms  of  adminiflering  jullice,  in 
order  to  bring  fomc  of  tlie  citizens  to  punifh- 
ment.  It  may  be  urged,  that  they  are  but 
forms,  which  ouoht  to  be  reforted  to  for  the 
lake  of  public  peace,  yet  the  obfcrvance  of 
them,  Hands  in  fo  clofe  a  connexion 
with  the  poilibility  of  adminiflering  impartial 
jUllicc,  that  government,  whenever  it  may 
find  it  nccelFary  to  depart  from  them,  ought 
mod  fcrupuloufly  to  limit  the  new  arbitrarv 
mode,  ;aid  thus  flicw  rcfpefl;  for  eflablifhed 
iaws." 

In  this  view,  many  very  reafonable  ob- 
jcftions  might  be  made  againft  the  decree  of 
deportation,  particularly  againft  tlie  applica- 
tion of  it  to  individuals,  on  the  ground  of 
notoriety  alone.   This  decree  does  not  fpccify 


64  BONAPARTE 

the  crimes  of  which  every  one  of  the  pro- 
fcribed  citizens  has  been  guilty.  There  arc 
thoufands  of  Frenchmen,  who  have  committed 
many  folHes  in  the  time  of  revolutionary  mad- 
nefs  ;  but  as  long  as  no  clear  definition  of  that 
crime  is  given,  of  which  deportation  is  to  be 
the  puniflhment,  none  of  all  thefe  men  can 
think  themfelves  fafe.  The  mofl  confummate 
villain  is  no  more  liable  to  it  than  the  citizen, 
to  whole  charge  nothinir  clfc  but  uniruarded 
expreffions  can  be  laid ;  and  who  knows  not 
whether  his  name  has  been  put  on  the  lift  by 
a  fecret  enemy,  or  by  pcrfons  infc61;ed  with 
party  fpirit,  who  cannot  be  confidered  as  fair 
judges  of  human  aQions.  If  no  common 
jury  or  court  of  juftice  fhould  decide  on  thefe 
matters — if  no  formal  procefs  could  previoufly 
be  inftituted,  a  fpecial  jury,  compofed  at  leaft 
of  members  of  the  confcrvative  fenatc,  might 
perhaps  have  been  appointed,  in  order  to  afcer- 
tain  the  exiftence  of  the  crime,  inftead  of  pafs- 
ing  fentence  without  inquiry  on  the  ground  of 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  65 

notoriety  alone.  Thus  would  the  fears  of  the 
well  meaning  have  been  removed,  and  govern- 
ment have  been  abfolved  of  cruelty  and  in- 
juftice. 

In  the  mean  time,  in  order  to  flrengthen 
the  imprelTion,  two  Frenchmen,  convicted  of 
having  been  the  makers  of  the  infernal 
machine,  were  publicly  executed.  Bonaparte 
now  adopted  feveral  meafures,  which  betrayed 
anxious  fear  for  his  perfonal  fecurity.  His 
confular  guard,  which  had  been  eflablilhed 
from  the  beginning  of  his  confulate,  and  all 
military  guards,  under  whofe  proteftion  he 
ufed  to  appear  in  public.  His  caufing  him- 
fclf  to  be  furrounded  in  fuch  a  manner,  that 
the  moft  undaunted,  who  might  hazard  their 
own  lives  to  rid  the  world  of  this  Lifurper, 
fhould  find  it  impoffible  to  approach  him,  de- 
generated into  a  perfc6l  manoeuvre  and  became 
a  new  branch  of  military  art.  He  has  never  ^ 
fmce  appeared  abroad,  without  thcfe additional 
precautions  of  fecurity.  This  dreadful  cataf- 
K 


66  BONAPARTE' 

trophe,  Ixirnifhed  him  with  a  pretext  for 
changing  his  mode  of  living,  which  had 
formerly  been  more  Hberal.  Though  difagrec- 
able  to  him,  he  chiefly  confined  himfelf  within 
the  circle  oi  his  family,  attended  by  his  guards. 
Malmaifon,  a  fmall  country  feat,  belonging  to 
his  wife,  but  wholly  ifolated,  and,  on  that 
account,  the  more  eafily  defended,  had  often 
been  the  place  of  his  refidence  ;  he  alio 
occafionally  refided  at  the  palace  of  the 
Thuilleries,  which  he  had  entered  with  great 
folemnity,  foon  after  his  being  made  conful  ; 
every  corner  being  filled  with  his  confular 
guards.  For  lomc  time  paft  he  had  lived 
almoft  exclufively  at  Malmaifon,  where  he 
introduced  a  flrift  court  etiquette,  which 
rendered  him  abfolutely  invihble  to  all  perfons 
whom  he  did  not  know  to  be  entirely  devoted 
to  him.  Very  few  of  thofe  learned  men  and 
artifts,  formerly  admitted  in  great  numbers 
into  his  prefcnce  and  family,  were  now  per- 
mitted to  approach  him  :  the  only  perfons  to 


iVND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  67 

whom  this  favour  was  continued,  were  grovcl- 
in^i  creatures,  on  whofe  flavifli  fubmiffion  he 
could  depend  ;  and  they  were  foon  thrown 
back  into  the  proper  diflance  between  maf- 
tcr  and   fcrvants. 

This  new  mode  of  Hving,  feemed  to  pleafe 
the  foreign  powers  more  than  the  former, 
which  was  approved,  and  better  bleed  by  the 
people.  Some  ambaffadors,  enemies  to  the 
French  republic,  endeavoured  at  leafl;  to  make 
Bonaparte  and  his  family,  who  aimed  at  roy- 
al authority,  believe  fo ;  and  they  took  great 
pains  to  convince  him,  that  the  relloration 
of  the  magnificence  and  fplendour  of  the 
ancient  court,  would  greatly  contribute  to 
the  re-eflablifhment  of  a  friendly  connexion 
between  their  maflcrs  and  the  P'irfl  Conful. 

The  fplendid  viftorics  of  Moreau  at  that 
period,  were,  indeed,  the  real  caule  of  the 
iricndly  difpofition,  by  which  almofl:  all  the 
courts  of  Europe  furprifed  him  fo  unex- 
pctledly. 


68  BONAPARTE 

The  negotiations  with  Auflria,  which  had 
been  broken  off,  were  now  renewed,  and  the 
treaty  of  peace  fo  advantageous  for  France, 
was  figned  at  Luncville,  at  the  cxpence  of 
the  German  empire,  on  the  19th  of  Febru- 
ary, 1801,  by  the  Count  Cobentzel  and 
jofeph  Bonaparte. 

This  peace  was  proclaimed  in  the  principal 
fquares  and  pubHc  places,  without  any  fplen- 
did  preparation.  It  was  received  by  the  people 
with  an  unexpe6led  coolnefs  and  indifference; 
no  joyful  exclamations  of  "  Vive  la  repu- 
blique!"  or  "  Vive  Bonaparte,"  were  heard. 
Roederer,  the  pliant  counfellor  of  ftate,  in 
his  flattering  account  of  the  occurrences, 
during  the  fecond  year  of  Bonaparte's  con- 
fulate.  notices  this  coolnefs  of  the  people  in 
the  following  words  : 

'•'  When  France  received  the  news  of  the 
peace,  flie  calmly  manifefled  her  joy,  which 
did  her  more  honor  than  noify  and  tumultu- 
ous exultation;    which,  with   its  impotence, 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  69 

and  want  of  decency  in  outward  form,  is  the 
joy  of  favages — the  joy  of  the  rabble   in   ci- 
vihzcd  flates,  when  either  an  uncxpe6led  feaft 
is  given,  fome  imminent  danger  removed,  or 
an  end  is  put  to  hardships  long  endured.   PLvery 
impartial  obferver,  who  has  witneffed  the  be- 
haviour of  the  inhabitants  of  Paris,  and  of  all 
France,  at  public  places  and  national  folemni- 
ties,  for  the  two  lafl  years,  mull  acknowledge 
that  the  French  are  no  longer  a  rabble,  but  a 
rational  people.    No  longer  is  the  army  com- 
pofed  of  a  brutal  foldiery,  but  orderly,  mili- 
tary men.   This  is  one  ol  the  happy  cfFeCls  of 
equality,  as  by  it  every  Frenchman  is  entitled 
to  be  admitted  to  all  public  places  of  amufe- 
ment,  which  he  finds  no  infligation  to  diflurb. 
Every  perfon  may  entertain  the  hope  of  being 
raifed  to  the  highefl  dignities,    he  therefore 
values  himfelf  too  much  to  be  guilty  of  any 
cxcefs.     France  had  nothing  to  fear  from  the 
continuation  of  the  war,  which  was  carried  on 
under  the  command  of  the  mofi  experienced 


70  BONAPARTE 

generals :  confident  of  her  being  able  to  make 
peace,  whenever  it  might  be  confiflcnt  with 
honor,  fhe  had  therefore  no  reafon  to  wonder. 
The  great  news  of  peace  cannot  be  received 
with  a  tumultuous  joy  by  a  nation  which 
knows  its  own  flrength  :  the  pleafing  intelli- 
gence is  expeCled,  and  is  therefore  received 
with  inward  fatisfatlion  alone.  Such  was  the 
fennilion  when  the  treaty  of  Luneville  was 
announced. 

The  bell  anfwcr  to  this  artful  and  unf:iir 
conftruClion  is,  that  the  people  behaving  in 
tills  manner  were  neither  Dutchmen  nor 
Americans,  but  the  very  fame  who,  at  the 
return  of  Bonaparte  fix  months  before,  had 
proved  thcmfelves  true  Frenchmen.  It  was 
too  clearly  iecn,  that  the  explofion  of  the 
infcrnai  machine,  by  which  the  mighty  ruler 
had  been  frightened  back  into  the  innermoft 
of  his  pahice,  had  alio  flruck  the  people  with 
panic  ;  and  while  the  mafk  ot  the  one  now 
fell,  tlic  illufion  of  tile  latter  ccafcd  likewife. 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  7  1 

Other  treaties  of  peace  with  Naples,  Por- 
tugal, and  feveral  German  princes,  to  whom 
the  Emperor  had  left  the  tafk  to  treat  for 
themfelves,  tollovvcd. 

Lucien  Bonaparte  negotiated  the  peace 
with  Portugal,  in  Spain  ;  though  he  did  not 
entirely  realize  the  views  of  the  Firft  Conful, 
he  certainly  Ihevvcd  great  dexterity  in  confult- 
ing  his  own  interefl:.  H^  returned  with  a 
capital  of  thirteen  millions  of  livres,  the  price 
of  his  having  made  a  vSpanifh  prince  King  of 
Etruria,  and  of  having  lorced  the  Grand  Duke 
of  liifcany  to  cede  his  rich  Florentine  poiFef- 
fion  to  the  new  king.  Jofeph  Bonaparte  alfo 
took  good  care  ot  himfelf,  by  exacting  from 
fome  of  the  princes  of  Germany,  a  certain 
fum,  for  the  partition  of  their  territory  :  his 
brother  added  a  prefent  to  it. 

Bonaparte  had  in  the  former  year  figned 
on  his  part  a  convention  with  the  Amcrican>, 
bom  which,  other  powers  might,  if  tlKv  plc.i!- 
ecl.  ]Mvr  learned    this  Icllon — tliat   the   linn. 


72  BONAPARTE 

noble,  and  decent  condu6l  of  a  nation,  feeling 

itfelf  independent,  would   make  a  better  im- 

preffion  on  a  chara6tcr  like  Bonaparte,  than 

the   fubmiffive,  cringing  behaviour   of  their 

ambalTadors. 

On  the  14th  of  July,  the  very  day  which 
had  been  hailed  for  twelve  years  as  a  day  of 
liberty,  and  of  the  deflruclion  of  the  Baftile, 
peace  was  celebr|^ed ;  not  in  the  extenfive 
champ  de  mars,  where  all  republican  feafts  had 
been  given  fince  the  grand  anniverfary  of  the 
confederation,  but  in  the  elyhan  fields,  where 
the  people  had  been  often  entertained  in  the 
times  of  royal  France. 

The  whole  management  of  this  feflival  of 
peace  bore  a  ftriking  refemblance  to  the 
feafls  given  by  the  old  court  to  the  Parifians. 
In  the  room  of  the  lofty  temple  of  liberty  in 
the  field  of  mars,  where  religious,  judiciary, 
and  military  folemnities  made  an  awful  im- 
preflion  on  the  mind,  there  was  to  be  feen  a 
pretty,   glittering,   little  kind  of  illuminated 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  73 

rotunda,  built  of  wood,  in  which  a  number  of 
fiddlers  were  fcraping  away,  exa6tly  as  in  the 
days  oi  the  old  court,  on  the  anniverfary  of 
St.  Louis.  Inflead  of  prize-fighting,  grand 
races,  and  combats  in  the  Roman  flyle,  in 
which  every  republican  of  note  or  property 
formerly  ufed  to  take  a  fharc,  there  were  to 
be  teen,  as  in  the  good  old  times,  a  numberof 
little  IcafFolds  for  tumblers,  ropcdancers,  har- 
lequins, pantaloons,  fcaramouchers,  &c.  Fran- 
coni,  with  his  troop,  had  alfo  places  afTigned, 
for  feats  of  horfemanfhip  and  pantomimes. 
Garncrin  rofe  with  his  balloon;  and  a  ?}zd(:  d& 
I'ocagne  was  crefted,  greafed  all  over,  intend- 
ed to  be  climbed  on,  and  hung  with  hams  and 
faufages  for  the  greedy  rabble.  Places  for 
dancing  were  likewife  appointed  ;  in  fhort, 
there  was  every  thing  to  amufe  an  idle  people, 
fond  of  merriment ;  and  yet  the  people  did 
not  dance  much.  They  were  neither  noifv 
nor  much  dilpofed  for  mirth  ;  it  was.  indeed, 
a  very  corapofed  and  decent  rejoicing. 
L 


74  BONAPARTE 

Bonaparte  and  his  family  did  not  take  any 
notice  of  thefe  little  amufements :  but  he 
went  the  night  before  to  the  Theatre  Fran- 
cois, in  his  grand  confular  drefs,  iurrounded 
hy  a  numerous  and  fplendid  military  guard. 
The  people  were  admitted  gratis  to  fee  the 
play.  All  the  other  theatres  in  Paris  v/ere  like- 
wife  open,  to  which  every  one  had  free  admif- 
fion;  but  none  of  them  thought  proper  to 
reprefent  a  play,  or  to  give  an  entertainment, 
in  allulion  to  the  peace,  or  the  maker  of  it, 
though  they  had  all  been  very  bufy  to  that 
efFeft,  after  his  return  from  Marengo.  Mr. 
Roederermight  have  difcovered  here  additional 
proof  of  the  difcretio7i,  the  delicacy,  and  the 
improved  character  of  the  French,  and  their  ra- 
pid ftrides  towards  cofmopolitic  perfe6lion. 

Bonaparte  fet  little  value  upon  thefe  new 
principles  ;  and  he  manifefted  it  beyoiid  a 
doubt,  by  his  new  treaties  with  the  Algerines 
and  Tunis-law  pirates.  He  had  the  dexterity 
to  appcafe  the  Emperor  Paul,   who  was  then 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  75 

a4*ming  againft  him,  by  a  ftudied  mark  of  at- 
tention. Pie  fent  him  feven  thoufand  Ruffian 
pri  Toners  of  war,  who  had  already  been  recon- 
ciled with  their  fituation  in  France,  new 
clothed,  and  completely  armed,  without  any 
ranfom ;  and  Paul  figned  the  peace  with 
France  on  the  8th  of  O£lober,   1801. 

Great  Britain  having  been  refilled  in  its 
claims  by  the  armed  neutrality  of  the  northern 
powers,  found  itfelf  now  ifolated,  and  turned 
its  thoughts  to  peace.  The  French  aflented 
to  the  evacuation  of  Egypt  ;  and  England, 
prefTed  by  interior  di(iatisfa6lion  and  fears, 
fubmitted  to  very  difadvantageous  terms. 

A  formal  treaty  of  peace  with  the  Turks 
was  alfo  ligned  about  this  time. 

After  having  fettled  the  external  affairs  in 
this  manner,  it  was  thought  expedient  to  pro- 
ceed farther.  The  prefeds,  under-prefetts, 
and  juftices  of  peace,  the  latter  having  been 
reduced  from  fix  thoufand  to  three  thoufand, 
were    aftivcly     employed    in   re-cftablilhing 


re  BONAPARTE 

public  order,  alTilled  by  new  organized  corps 
at  Gcnsdarmes,  who  were  deflined  to  do  the 
duty  of  the  ancient  vrarcchau/Jcf,  under  the 
authority  of  the  new  fpccial  tiibunaLs.  But 
Ibme  journahfts  and  newfpaper-writers,  with 
their  partifanS;  under  the  pay  and  prote6lion 
of  government,  endeavoured  principally  to 
prepare  the  minds  of  the  people  to  the  reftora- 
tion  of  the  Roman  Catholic  religion.  A  very 
clever,  but  ill-famed  abbe,  named  Geoffroy, 
had  the  direction  of  the  journal  called  Jour- 
nal des  dehats ;  of  which  an  immenfe  number 
of  copies  were  printed,  and  circulated  all  over 
France,  liy  an  artful,  well-devifed,  and  mali- 
cious vein  of  witticifm,  he  fuccccded  in 
rendering  all  the  attempts  to  improve  man- 
kind iufpicious  and  contemptible,  which  the 
greateO:  gcniufes  of  P'rance  had  made  during 
the  latter  part  of  ih;'  laft  century.  He  main- 
tained that  the  objects  which  thefc  men  had 
defignedly,  and  knowingly  purfucd,  had  ef- 
fected nothing  but  the  fubverfionand  annihila- 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  77 

tion  of  all  good  morality,  of  all  religion,  of 
all  refpc61:  towards  government,  and  the  de- 
ftruftion  of  all  the  ties  of  fociety.  His  viru- 
lence was  chiefly  direfted  againfl  Voltaire 
and  RoulFeau.  Thefe  two  men,  who  never 
ccafed  to  attack  each  other  ;  of  whom  it  may 
be  faid,  that  they  never  agreed  in  any  fingle 
point ;  were  portrayed  by  him  as  two  equally 
wicked  traitors,  animated  by  the  fame  defign 
— namely,  the  overthrow  and  deflruQion  of 
the  French  nation  ;  and  were  damned  to  all 
eternity.  He  betrayed  too  foon,  that  he  had 
only  taken  up  arms  through  bigotry,  and  in 
defence  of  defpotifm ;  to  which  thefe  two 
men  had  never  been  very  Jriendly.  La  Harpe, 
alter  having  outlived  himfelf  too  foon  ;  after 
having  been,  in  former  times,  and  to  the  lafl 
year  of  the  revolution,  the  moft  zealous  de- 
fender, and  moft  enthufiaflic  eulogift  of  his 
teacher  and  friend,  Voltaire,  now  joined  the 
pious  band  of  royal  pious  Roman  catholic 
dealers  in  damnation,  and  unmercifullv  con- 


78  BONAPARTE 

demned  the  old  vviity  and  arch  linner  to 
eternal  tlaincs.  Though  he  moft  probably  did 
not  fuccscd  in  his  charitable  wifhes,  he  gained, 
however,  fome  new  readers  of  hi?,  J  alien  mercu- 
ry at  France,  and  made  it  fell  a  little  better. 

Bcurrier,  and  fome  other  of  his  call, 
pic:ichcd  and  publifhed  fermons,  to  the 
eJiiication  and  converfion  of  all  poor 
louls,  infcclcd  by  the  doctrines  of  what  was 
termed  philofophy ;  and  the  lives  of  the  faints, 
abounding  with  popifli  and  prieflly  exhorta- 
tions, fupplanted  the  well-written  memoirs 
and  biographies  of  ftatcsmcn,  heroes,  and 
philolophers.  who  had  merited  well  of  their 
country.  One  cannot  help  fmiling,  at  the 
fame  time  one  truly  pities  thefe  hypocritical 
wuialics,  in  obferving  what  they  pretend  to 
call  philnjophen,  and  philofophy. 

They  do  not  mean  a  Defcart;  s,  a  Male- 
branche,  a  Bayle,  and  (uch  great  men,  when 
they  declare  war  againft  their  philofopher.s ; 
tliey  mean,  on  they  contrary,  all  thofc eloquent 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  79 

and  clever  writers,  who  were  men  of  letters 
and  men  of  the  world,  who  at  the  fame  time 
had  courage  enough  to  expofe  to  the  deceived 
multitude  the  folly  and   abfurdities  of  their 
leaders,  and  to  caution  them  againfl:  deceitful 
glitterings  and  dark  lanterns,    by  which  they 
were  dazzled  :   they  mean  all  thofs  men  who 
thought  mankind    capable  of  iinprovement, 
and  dcferving  a  better  fite,  and  who  were  in 
hopes  to  find  out  the  right  path  that  leads  to 
facrcd  truth  ;  who  wiilicd  to  raife  the  looks  of 
mankind  to  heaven,  and  iublime  objefts,  in- 
Ilcad  of  fcttcrmi^   them  down    to  the  earth, 
and  yoking   them  like  beafls  of  burden.    lu 
fliort,  every  man  of  good  fcnfe,  of  real  fellow- 
feeling  and  of  hunianitv,  who  raited  liis  voice 
againfl.    the   craUy   and    political    tyranny  ct 
pricllhood,  was  cailed  by  them  a  philofophcr; 
and  they  hoped  to  brand  h'li  n;ime  with  infamy, 
by  fuch  an  a]:)De]Iation-pcGr  mii'erable  beings ' 
Chateaubriand':;  gcinus  borrowed  fome  new 
o;!]i>'.menti;  and  oaudv  dr.;pf'rv  from  the  Kafl". 


80  BONAPARTE 

to  enliven  Chriftianity,  after  its  long  death-like 
flumber.  He  went  fo  far  as  to  fuppofe  the 
Chriflian  religion,  endued  with  an  innate 
perfeftibility,  capable  of  attaining  the  higher 
requifitcs  ol  art  and  claffical  beauty  ;  fanatics 
devoid  of  mind,  and  hypocrites,  followed  his 
example.  One  cannot  help  pitying  the  miie- 
rable  productions  advertifed  in  all  the  French 
journals  and  literary  catalogues — books  long 
ago  reje£led  and  treated  with  contempt  by 
enlightened  Europe. 

The  political  oeconomift,  Rcederer,  has  alfo 
fome  concern  in  this  buhnefs,  and  does  the 
Chriftian  religion  and  the  holy  city  of  Rome  a 
great  honor,  by  rcprefenting  it  as  a  mere  fup- 
plement  to  paternal  authority  and  public  legif- 
lation.  lie  dwells  bcfides  on  the  many  ad- 
vantages which  Rome,  ftill  in  his  opinion,  the 
queen  of  the  world,  may  procure  tor  Roman 
catholic  nations,  towards  whom  Hie  is  favour- 
ably inclined;  he  notices  the  great  mifchiefs 
which  they  may  do  to  refractory  llatcs;  he  in- 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  8i 

fifls  on  the  avciTion  which  foreign  powers 
will  always  feci  from  a  people  without  priefls 
and  without  altars,  in  order  to  make  them 
bend  under  the  Popifh  yoke. 

All  thefe  apologifts,  though  they  conti- 
nually and  unanimoufly  praife  the  French,  as 
the  moft  amiable,  moft  civilized,  mofl  enlight- 
ened, mofl  tender,  and  moft  refpe6lable 
people,  treat  them,  at  the  lame  time,  like  the 
mofl  abjecl  rabble,  whom  the  whip  and  the 
gallows  can  fcarcely  keep  in  order;  from  this 
they  urge  the  necefhty  of  maintaining  the 
only  faviiTT  catholic  faith.  They  unanimouflv' 
afifert,  that  the  French  had  no  other  dcfire  for 
the  lall  ten  years,  than  to  have  their  priefls 
reflored  to  them,  though  every  one  knows 
that  they  drove  them  out  of  the  country  as 
foon  as  they  had  broken  their  chains  afunder, 
and  cither  butchered  or  drowned  fuch  as  would 
not  fly;  nevcrthelefs,  they  fo  often  repeat  this, 
that  the  French  themfclvcs  muft  at  lafl  believe 

it:  fume  of  their  neighbours  certainly  will  not 
M 


82  BONAPARTE 

doubt  it.  But  impartial  men,  and  the  friends 
of  truth,  will  fee  and  fpeak  otherwife ; — This 
has  been  the  cafe  with  la  Vendee,  which  in- 
cluded provinces  diftinguifhed  for  feveral 
centuries  paft  from  the  reft  of  France,  by  their 
manner  of  thinking  and  the  cuftoms  of  their 
inhabitants.  The  royalifts  (that  is  of  la  Vendee, 
a  term  applied  only  to  noblemen  and  poffef- 
fors  of  eftates)  were  fully  fatisfied  with  the 
antient  government :  and  when  the  hateful 
innovation  of  the  revolution  was  attempted  to 
be  introduced,  they  had  the  prudence  inftantly 
to  draw  the  lower  clafs  of  people  into  their  in- 
tereft,  and  to  transform  their  refiftance  into  a 
religious  war ;  but  this  was  not  the  cafe  with 
the  reft  of  France.  Hypocrites  and  fanatics, 
anxious  to  prove  the  general  delire  of  the 
people,  and  the  necellity  of  reftoring  the 
Roman  catholic  religion,  had  recourfe  for  a 
precedent  to  the  hiftory  of  La  Vendee,  where 
they  certainly  found  fomething  in  their  favor ; 
yet  La  Vendee  would  not,moft  probably,  have 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  83 

been  tranquilifed  fo  foon,  if  the  emiffaries  of 
Bonaparte  had  not  made  them  the  fame  pro- 
mifes  of  a  final  reftoration  of  their  king,  as 
they  did  about  the  re-eflabUfhment  of  the 
Roman  cathoHc  religion.  The  Vendeans 
would  not  have  remained  fo  quiet,  if  Bonaparte 
and  his  generals  had  not  taken  more  powerful 
and  uniform  meafures  to  keep  that  part  of  La 
Vendee  under  control,  which  had  not  been 
included  in  the  treaty  of  peace.  Like  their 
predeceffors,  who  generally  made  peace  in 
order  to  gain  time,  and  to  gather  flrength, 
they  would  have  broken  it. 

The  French  government,  if  it  really  in- 
tended to  eftablilh  that  religion,  which  the 
people  moft  wanted  and  demanded,  as  it  was 
pretended,  ought  to  have  tolerated  alike  all 
different  profeffions  of  faith,  in  order  to  give 
the  citizens  the  opportunity  of  a  fair  trial. 
They  fhould  have  begun  with  the  general  re- 
form of  public  inftruftion,  ajid,  after  having 
attended  to  its  efFe6is,  or  rather  its  firft  im- 


84  BONAPARTE 

preffions,  operating  in  favor  of  religion  and 
morality,  under  the  attentive  vigilance  of 
lOjOOO  mayors,  300ojuftices  of  peace,  lOO 
prefefts,  400  under-prefeds,  with  their  coun- 
fellors,  and  a  corps  of  well-organifed  genf- 
d'armcs,  befides  numberlefs  fpecial  tribunals  : 
they  might  afterwards  have  propofed  to  re-ef- 
tablifh  the  Roman  Catholic  faith.  But  Bona- 
parte, being  a  true  Italian,  tuU  of  deep  and 
darkdefigns,  always  conlulting  his  own  inter- 
eft,  and  fecretly  purfuing  his  end,  preferred 
the  policy  of  the  ancient  defpotifm  :  and  in- 
troduced, with  other  new  regulations  for  his 
own  perfonal  iecurity,  this  Ipiritual  one;  con- 
vinced that  the  whole  hofl  of  monks  and  priefls 
and  the  many  Roman  Cathohc  courts,  and 
fpecial  tribunals,  inftituted  for  the  benefit  of 
poor  Chriftian  fouls,  would  as  ufual  readily 
concur  in  promoting  his  views. 

A  national  fynod  was  convened,  under  the 
aufpices  of  government,  to  difcufs  the  means 
of  refloring  the   Gallican  church,  which  had 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  85 

often  given  great  ofFoncc  to  the  Papal  chair. 
Bonaparte  negotiated  with  the  Pope,  who  had 
not  been  a  Httle  terrified  by  him.  The  con- 
fequence  of  this  riegociation  was  the  famous 
concordat,  by  which,  in  fatl,  no  party  was 
fatisficd.  The  Pope  declared  in  a  conclave, 
after  havin^r  created  four  French  cardinals 
from  mere  gratitude,  that  much  had  been  pro- 
mifed  him  by  the  Firfl  Conful,  and  that  the 
creation  of  the  four  French  cardinals  would 
undoubtedly  contribute  greatly  to  promote 
the  Catholic  pcrfuafion  in  France,  and  pacify 
his  Roman  friends. 

Though  Portalis  and  Rcederer  took  great 
pains  to  prove  the  equality  of  right  to  all  re- 
ligious opinions,  it  cannot  be  denied  that  the 
concordat,  as  far  as  it  has  been  made  pubh'c, 
paves  the  way  for  the  exclufive  exercife  of 
the  Roman  Catholic  faith.  The  Firfl  Conful 
mull  of  neceffity  be  one  of  its  followers. 
The  very  numerous  Roman  clergy  is  fupported 
and  penfioned  by  government,  without  excep- 


S6  BONAPARTE 

tion,  whilft  the  Proteftant  clergy  are  left  un- 
provided for;  their  fuperior  only  receiving  a 
fmall  ftipend  from  the  ftate.  Indeed  the  pen- 
fions  of  the  clergy  have  not  yet  been  paid, 
even  for  the  firft  year;  yet  the  Catholic  priefts 
in  the  departments  have  already  begun  to  fpeak 
in  the  high  flrain  of  former  times ;  they  ty- 
rannize over  the  common  people,  and  parti- 
cularly influence  the  minds  of  the  purchafers 
of  national  property;  they  affert  that  every 
couple  married  by  a  conftitutional  priefl,  and 
every  child  chriftened  by  any  of  them,  muft 
be  married  and  chriftened  anew ;  they  con- 
fecrate  all  churches  again  that  have  been  pro- 
faned, as  they  term  it,  by  conftitutional  priefts : 
this  point  once  fettled,  Bonaparte  may  perhaps 
difcover  with  whom  he  has  to  deal.  If  their 
payments  fhould  be  kept  back,  which,  on  ac- 
count of  the  expences  of  the  prefent  war  with 
England,  is  but  too  likely,  Bonaparte  may 
learn,  that  the  very  inftruments  ho  meant  to 
ufe  againft  the  people,  may  alfo  be  employed 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  87 

againfl  himfelf.  If  the  famous  fpiritual  ruler, 
and  earthly  prince,  who  has  undoubtedly  kept 
an  account  of  the  laft  fourteen  years,  has  once 
fettled  all  his  fpiritual  and  temporal  friends  iii 
the  land  of  promife,  there  may  happily  flill  re- 
main one  unfortunate  anointed  head  to  be  pro- 
vided for,  whom  all  rhofe  friends  will  undoubt- 
edly be  ready  to  ferve  and  affift,  in  preference 
to  the  fortunate  foldier.  Bonaparte  ma}'  then, 
too  late,  be  convinced  of  his  error.  He  may  at- 
tempt to  rcdrcfi>  it,  and  retrieve  his  folly;  but 
he  mufl  recollcft,  that  very  few  men  can 
fafely  retreat  after  having  daringly  advanced  ; 
at  leafl,  there  is  no  probability  that  he  will 
make  an  exception,  as  he  has  forcibly  feized 
the  helm,  and  with  undaunted  boldnefs  fleered 
the  courfe  of  30  millions  of  individuals. 

The  affertion  of  a  general  wifh  of  the  na- 
tion for  the  re-eflablifhment  of  the  Catholic 
religion  and  its  abfolute  neceffity,  was  re- 
peated at  tlie  fame  time  as  that  regarding  the 
pubhc   inllruftion    of  youth,      Chaptal,  the 


88  BONAPARTE 

minifter,  who  is  confidered  in  foreign  coun- 
tries as  a  man  of  a  liberal  and  enlightened 
mind,  begins  his  circular  letter  to  the  depart- 
ments and  their  prefeds,  in  the  following 
words,  of  whom  he  requires  a  correcl;  return 
of  the  number  and  nature  of  public  fchools  : 
*•  Depuis  dix  ans  on  reclame  dc  toutes  parts 
le  retabliffement  de  ces  colleges  on  une  jeu- 
nefife  nombreufe  trouvait  une  inflru6lion  fa- 
cile et  fuffifante."* 

Jinguenet  makes  a  pointed  reply  to  this  in 
his  Decade  Philofophiquc:  "  I  know  nothing 
of  a  general  vvifh  for  the  re-eflablifhment  of  the 
old  fchools,  (fays  he,)  but  I  know  that  the 
mode  of  in{lru6lion  in  thofe  fchools  has  been 
neither  cafy  nor  fufficient." 

"  Eight  or  nine  years  were  fpent,  teaching 
latin  only  ;  neither  hiflory,  geography,  na- 
tural philofophy,  drawing,  nor  any  other  ufe- 


*  For  thcA,"  ten  yc;irs  pall,  the  rc-cftnhlilhmcnt  of  t'li.f-.'  colleges 
has  been  loudly  CL;il'.:d  for  on  all  fu'.vs,  in  which  a  ;;rcat  luiir.bcr  of 
young  men  have  tafily  aciiuiretl  a  fuflkiuit  degree  of  knowledge. 


7^ 

AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  89 

ful  fludy,  made  a  part  of  public  inftru6tion. 
Of  two  years  affigned  afterwards  to  the  (lady 
of  philofophy,  the  one  was  loft  in  the  dry 
purfuit  of  a  fatiguing  and  moft  confufed  fyf- 
tcni  of  metaphyfics — the  other  in  a  courfe  of 
mathematical  leclures,  by  no  means  fufEcient, 
The  education  and  inftruftion  of  youth  were 
in  the  hands  of  monks  and  priefb,  who  took 
great  pains  to  make  them  monks,  abbes,  and 
devotees ;  but  never  thought  of  rendering 
them  brilliant  or  ufeful  members  of  fociety." 
This  applied  with  great  truth  to  the  former 
fchools ;  and  much  might  be  faid  on  this  head. 
The  ignorance  of  the  whole  French  nation,  as 
to  their  fundamental  laws,  concerning  the  ad- 
miniftration  of  juftice,  their  rights  and  pub- 
lic duties,  their  fcanty  knowledge  of  the  geo- 
graphy and  hiftory  of  their  own  and  other 
countries,  was  the  rcfult  of  fuch  innovations 
under  fuch  teachers:  even  the  revolution  may 
be  partly  attributed  to  this.   The  ftupidity,  tlie 

innnorality,  and  the  arrogance  of  the  monks 

N 


?0  BONAPARTE 

and  priefls,  to  whom  the  pubhc  education  was 
confided,  had  filled  the  French  with  dilgufl: 
and  contempt  for  their  teachers  ;  they  natural- 
ly looked  out  for  better  inflru6lors.  To  fuch 
a  degree  was  a  very  effential  part  of  their  edu- 
cation negle6led,  that,  with  the  exception  of 
the  higher  clafTes,  and  the  mercantile  part  of 
the  nation,  fcarcely  a  Frenchman  could  be 
found  who  could  write  a  good  hand,  or  knew 
any  thing  of  figures ;  this  volatile  people, 
devoid  of  all  the  powers  of  cool  and  found 
judgment,  thronged  under  the  banners  of 
mad,  or  infidious,  cunning  leaders,  in  hopes 
of  bettering  their  f;ite ;  and  afcribed  to  their 
infligators  all  the  crimes  and  horrors  which 
have  fo  fhamefully  difgraced  the  French  re- 
volution. The  recalling  and  reinflating  of 
thefe  teachers  can  therefore  be  of  no  benefit 
ivhatever;  it  will  certainly  lead  back  to  the 
former  Hate  of  ignorance  ;  but  as  experience 
has  taught  i\<,  it  will  not  prevent  the  attempts 
of  a  new  rcvolation. 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  91 

Bruim,  of  Strafburg,  a  man  of  claflical  eru- 
dition, and  of  the  befl  intentions,  urged  the 
necefTity  of  a  liberal  plan  of  inflru6lion  for 
youth.  He  particularly  inveighed  again (l  the 
infinuations  of  all  the  friends  of  ignorance  ; 
but  he  flood  -'onc.  All  thofe  who  lived 
near  court,  who  could  fee  with  their  own  eyes, 
and  form  a  right  judgment  of  Bonaparte  and 
his  miniflcrs,  without  needing  the  praifcs  of 
hired,  lying,  or  frightened  newspaper  writers 
and  journalifls,  had  lofl  the  courage  to  tell 
the  truth.  They  vv^ere  fenfible  that  Bonaparte 
had  received  his  education  from  priefls,  and 
had  been  taught  nothing  but  latin  and  ma- 
thematics :  they  knew  him  to  be  an  enemy  to 
all  liberal  plans  of  in{lru6lion ;  they  were 
not  ignorant,  that  all  the  high-founding  pro- 
clamations of  government,  and  all  the  new 
eftablifhed  focieties  for  the  improvement  of 
public  education,  were  nothing  elfe  but  a  fhow 
and  a  juggle  to  impofe  upon  the  filly  French 
people,  who  are  eafily  duped  by  pompous 


92  BONAPARTE 

words,  fair  promifes,  or  grand  extenfive  pre- 
parations ;  and  in  their  joy,  generally  lofe 
fight  of  the  real  objeft  in  view. 

The  moll  worthy  men  of  France,  amongft 
whom  Cluvier  may  rank  the  firfl,  had  long 
fince  turned  their  thoughts  to  the  drawing  up 
a  plan  of  education  worthy  of  the  19th  cen- 
tury ;  but  as  it  vvill  be  feen  hereafter,  one 
fingle  (Iroke  of  the  pen  ol  Uonaparte  annihi- 
lated it  altogether. 

Diilant  northern  countries,  whofe  inhabi- 
tants are  looked  upon  as  barbarians,  by  all 
children  of  ignorance,  know  better  how  to 
profit  by  the  liberal  hints  given  by  men  to 
whom  France  owed  its  tame  in  learning.  The 
bright  fun  of  erudition  no  longer  rifes  exclu- 
fively  in  the  Eafl,  nor  fets  in  the  Weft.  Bo- 
naparte, who  might  have  fhone  in  the  annals 
of  hiftory,  like  another  Eaftern  Alexander, 
may  perhaps  be  doomed  by  impartial  pofle- 
rity,  and  the  records  of  truth,  to  nightly 
Ojadc  and  total  darknefs;  when  the  Northern 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  93 

Alexander  (lands  high  in  the  regions  of  meri- 
dian fplendor  and  true  greatnei's. 

The  dehberations  on  the  new  code  of  laws, 
offered  a  frefli  opportunity  of  unravelling  the 
chara6ler  and  views  of  Bonaparte.  It  had 
been  made  public,  and  met  with  approbation, 
having  been  drawn  up  by  the  molt  efleemed 
legiflators.  Some  of  the  firft  lawyers  of  France 
had  added  notes  to  it ;  the  courts  of  appella- 
tion and  the  tribunal  of  caffcition  had  alfo 
examined  it,  and  made  iomc  additions.  Every 
thing  was  prepared  for  its  introduftion  :  it  was 
fubmitted  to  the  decifion  of  the  council  of 
ftatc,  where  a  difcuflion  took  place ;  the  re- 
port of  which  was  printed  for  the  ufe  of  the 
public,  and  the  council  of  flate  at  lad  drew 
up  thefe  laws,  which  were  afterwards  to  be 
difcull'cd  in  the  legiilative  body  and  the  tri- 
bunate. Thcle  two  bodies  were  now  darins: 
enough  to  oppofe,  in  the  prefence  of  the  con- 
suls, fonie  of  thefe  laws  as  inexpedient,  ob- 
fcure,  and  prejua.cial  to    the    Mety  of   the 


94  BONAPARTE 

citizens.  Government,  much  hurt  at  this  op- 
pofition,  withdrew  in  confequence  the  newly 
propofed  laws,  in  ftrange  and  rather  angry 
terms.  A  fpecial  meflfage  plainly  announced 
to  them  that  government  faw  itfelf  compelled 
to  withdraw  them,  though  they  had  been  de- 
manded and  anxioufly  expelled  by  the 
people,  obferving  that  the  time  for  quiet  de- 
liberation and  harmony  had  not  yet  arrived. 

Bonaparte  took  a  very  fimple  meafure  to 
prevent  any  oppofition  in  future,  or  rather  to 
avoid  all  flrong  difcuflion  :  he,  without  any 
ceremon}',  propofed  to  the  fenate  to  turn  out 
all  members  from  thefe  two  bodies,  who  had 
fignalized  thcmfelves  by  ufing  too  much 
liberty  in  their  fpceches,  as  foon  as  the 
time  for  the  annual  going  out  of  one-fiflli 
fhould  arrive.  A  fpecial  lift  of  all  mem- 
bers ofFenfive  to  government  was  made  out, 
and  the  clcanfmg  of  tlie  two  Hate  bodies, 
as  they  called  it,  took  place  according  to  the 
lupreme  will    and  plcafure  of  government. 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  95 

Twenty  members  of  the  tribunate,  and  fixty 
members  of  the  legiflative  body  were  ejected 
and  replaced  by  other  men  more  pleafmg 
to  the  Firfl  Conful.  By  the  conditution  it 
was  certainly  ordered,  that  all  members  indif- 
criminately  fliould  draw  lifts  at  the  going  out 
of  one-fifth  part,  but  this  law  was  let  afide 
for  lucighty  reafons  no  doubt. 

Roederer,  the  counfellor  of  flate,  thought 
proper  in  his  Journal  of  Paris,  to  call  their  lafl: 
oppolition  indecent,  unreafonahle,  fufpicious, 
and  imtimely.  He  declared  every  oppoli- 
tion inadmiffible,  but  that  which  was  out- 
voted by  a  conllant  majority  of  minifterial 
members:  fenfible  and  impartial  men,  to  their 
great  aftoniChment,  now  learned  for  the  firll 
time,  that  an  oppofition  ftiould  partly  exifl  in 
France  :  yet  the  aukward  and  unfair  manner 
in  which  this  fervile  hireling  contrafted  the'o 
difcuflions  of  the  tribunate  and  legiflative 
body,  with  the  oppolitions  in  the  Britifli  par- 
liament, flicwcd   clearly,   that  he  did  not,  or 


96  BONAPARTE 

rather  would  not  uiiderfland  the   true   lenfe 

of  the  term. 

An  acute  writer  made  fome  notes  to  Roede- 
rer's  pamphlet,  and  proved  that  no  real  oppo- 
fition  could  exift  at  all  in  France.  The  pro- 
pofing  of  new  laws,  (fays  he)  is  according  to 
the  prefent  conftitution,  the  exclufive  right  of 
government;  the  council  of  ftate  in  which  the 
Firft  Conful,  or  one  of  his  colleagues  prefides, 
which  is  appointed  by  the  Firfl  Conful  himfelf, 
and  refponfible  to  him,  is  charged  to  deliberate 
on  the  means  of  the  execution  of  the  laws, 
and  only  on  the  propriety  of  new  ones.  But 
the  tribunate,  free  from  all  influence,  is  bound 
to  watch  over  the  rights  of  the  people,  to  ex- 
po'c  all  abufcs,  and  to  decide  on  the  merits 
or  demerits  of  all  laws  propofed.  The  legif- 
lative  body  is  the  final  refort,  and  its  vote  is 
decifive.  But  why  thefe  two  laft  bodies,  if 
none  of  the  members  fhall  have  the  power  to 
withhold  their  alFont  to  the  meafures  of  go- 
vernment as  Mr.  Rccdcrer  defircs  ?    Wliv  a 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  97 

tribunate  at  all  ?  Roederer  thinks  they  may 
ftill  fpeak,  in  order  to  inform  government 
of  the  voice  and  wifhes  of  the  people. 
He  fuppofes  that  men  will  take  the  trou- 
ble of  finding  out  and  making  objeftions, 
which  nobody  cares  for,  becaufe  he  is  not 
compelled  to  anfwer  them :  he  alfo  ima- 
gines that  the  public  prints  will  indeed  faith- 
fully detail  thefe  fpeeches.  If  Bonaparte 
will  grant,  to  newspaper  writers,  the  privilege 
of  publifhing  objedlions  made  to  the  meafures 
of  government,  he  has  no  need  of  a  clafs  of 
men  in  the  tribunate,  who  may  certainly  fpeak 
if  they  chufe,  but  v/lio  dare  not  oppofe.  The 
publifhers  of  newspapers  will  find  oppofition 
matter  for  themfelves  :  and  the  public  may 
f^ive  i,200;000  livres,  which  are  annually 
paid  to  the  members  of  the  tiibunatc.  Why 
the  farce  of  a  fpecial  orator  for  each  of  the 
legiflative  bodies,  as  they  are  in  the  beil  un- 
dcrflanding,  and  in  perfeft  harmony  with  go- 
vernment, always  praifmg  and  extolling  it  to 

tlie  fkics?     Why  this  legiflative  body  itfelf, 
o 


98  BONAPARTE 

if  they  intend  hereafter  to  make  it  an  afylum 
for  all  the  poor  unhappy  wretches,  whom 
Abbe  Sicard*  could  not  by  any  means 
enable  to  gain  their  daily  bread  by  ufeful  la- 
bour? It  is  all  very  well ;  for  the  deaf  and 
dumb  are  here  in  their  proper  places,  as  they 
have  nothing  elfe  to  do  than  to  affemble  at  a 
certain  hour  at  a  certain  day,  in  order  to  throw 
a  few  little  balls  in  the  little  balloting  machine, 
when  a  certain  lign  is  made.  It  is  almoft  im- 
pollible  for  any  man  to  think  otherwife,  if  he 
have  ever  been  prefent  at  the  fittings  of  the 
legiflative  body,  and  feen  its  members  filent- 
ly  perform  that  facred  and  important  duty  of 
throwing  a  black  or  white  ball  into  a  certain 
pot,  as  it  plcafes  their  mafter. 

The  French  people  care  not  about  the  fit- 
tings of  the  legiflative  body.  The  greatefl 
part  of  thofe  who  go  there  out  of  curiofity, 
arc  foreigners,  who  wifli  to  fee  the  fine  faloon, 

*  S'card,    a    clihiatcJ   kaJiT  of  tli'.-   il(  af  and   dumb,  in  Pari?. 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOl'i.  -  i^j 

which  has  been  fitted  up  for  the  legiflative 
body,  in  the  palace  of  the  Prince  Conti ; 
and  they  may  fee  it  when  the  fittings  are  over. 
Countrymen,  or  inhabitants  of  fmall  bo- 
roughs, who  are  anxious  to  fee  their  coufms 
and  friends,  in  their  embroidered  coflly  drefs, 
and  broad  tri-coloured  fcarf,  fometimes  go 
there;  and  they  form  indeed  a  ftrange  con- 
trail with  the  foreign  miniflers,  who  fome- 
times attend  in  their  full  drefs,  with  their  flars 
and  ribbands,  and  have  a  feparate  gallery 
affigned  them. 

The  French  citizens  would  take  more  inte- 
reft  in  the  fittings  of  the  tribunate,  where  the 
new  laws  are  difcufTed :  but  this  legiflative 
body  afTemble  in  a  fmall  faloon,  of  the  palais 
royal,  which,  on  that  account,  is  now  called 
Palais  du  Tribunat.  There  is  only  room 
for  a  few  fpe6lators ;  but  even  tlicfe  few  are 
feldom  to  be  met  with. 

A  more  interefling  objeft  to  all  Parifians 
was,  the  beholding  the  hereditary  prince  of 


gg  BONAPARTE 

Parma,  whom  Bonaparte  made  king  of  Etruria. 
They  had  not  feen  a  king  for  the  lafl  ten  years. 
He,  that  now  appeared  among  them  was  a 
young  prince  of  twenty-one  years  of  age,  well 
made,  a  Louis  of  the  houfe  of  Bourbon,  drefTed 
in  the  fplendid  uniform  of  the  Spanifh  guards. 
Bonaparte  behaved  civilly  towards  him  :  he 
came  to  town  from  Malmaifon  more  frequent- 
ly than  ufual ;  but  the  air  and  tone  of  a  man 
that  can  make  and  unmake  kings,  was  always 
kept  up  towards  the  young  prince,  who  be- 
haved almofl;  with  too  much  civility  and  gra- 
titude to  the  Firft  Conful.  The  moft  expen- 
five  and  moft  fplendid  feafts  were  given  in 
honor  of  the  young  king,  but  not  by  Bona- 
parte himfelf ;  he  ordered  his  minifters  to  do 
fo.  Millions  of  livrcs  were  expended,  and 
never  fmcc  the  days  of  Louis  XIV.  had  luch 
a  number  of  grand  feftivals  been  given  at 
Paris.  Flattering  illufions  to  the  illuflrious 
vifitor  were  made  at  the  theatres.  Diftinguilh- 
ing  marks  of  rcfpeft  were  bellowed  upon  hihi 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  101 

every  where.  Many  an  honeft-heartcd  Pari- 
fian  was  inclined  to  believe,  that  tlie  kingdom 
of  Etruria  was  only  meant  as  the  firft  flep,  or 
preparatory  fchool  for  this  Louis  of  Bourbon, 
and  that  Bonaparte  hereafter  intended  to  make 
him  king  of  France.  But  the  public  prints 
announced  his  departure  fooncr  than  he  him- 
fcif  might  have  been  led  to  expect.  Not 
long  after  he  fet  out,  taking  with  him  a 
letter  written  by  Bonaparte  to  the  Duke  of 
Parma,  his  father,  in  which  he  recommended 
flrongly  the  receiving  of  his  fon  like  a  king, 
and  the  paying  him  all  due  honors  and  re- 
fpciSl.  But  there  was  no  need  of  this ;  the 
duke  would  not  have  ofFonded  his  filler,  the 
Queen  of  Spain,  who  had  bcv^n  inftrumental  in 
procuring  fuch  a  boon  for  her  nephew,  or  ra- 
ther for  her  daughter,  his  confort.  Never  did 
the  Ton  of  a  petty  prince  obtain  more  eafily 
fo  valuable  a  gift.  Tufcany  is  the  fineft  and 
mofl  fruitful  part  of  Italy,  near  the  Mediter- 
ranean, with  1.500,000  inhabitants,  yielding 


102  BONAPARTE 

a  revenue  of  three  millions  of  dollars.  But 
why  the  necclTity  of  raifing  it  into  a  king- 
dom, as  the  grand  dukes  had  always  been 
very  refpeftable,  few  could  guefs.  They 
were  as  much  aftoniftied  as  when  he  annihi- 
lated Venice.  Some  fuppofed,  that  mere  re- 
venge had  fpurred  him  in  one  inflance,  and 
that  an  over-ruling  pride  had  guided  him  in 
the  other.  But  Bonaparte  knows  the  French, 
and  underflands  pretty  well  how  to  prepare 
them  gradually  for  thofe  fleps,  which  he 
means  to  take  hereafter. 

The  indemnification  of  the  Grand  Duke  of 
Tufcany,  was  not  thought  of:  he  was  compel- 
led to  give  up  his  country,  becaufe  Bonaparte 
would  not  fufFcr  an  Auftrian  prince  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  his  Italian  republic,  and 
fo  near  the  Mediterranean.  He  was  to  be  in- 
demnified, both  in  Germany  and  Italy;  and 
yet  of  all  European  princes  he  had  been  the 
firfl  in  acknowledging  the  French  republic. 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  103 

The  King  of  Sardinia,  who  had  been  robbed 
of  Piedmont  and  Savoy,  was  not  treated  with 
more  indulgence.  His  ambalFador  was  even 
ordered  to  leave  Paris,  becaufe  he  thought 
proper  to  treat  without  the  concurrence  of 
RulTia  and  Pruflia ;  nor  would  he  fubmit  to 
the  impertinence  of  the  minifter  of  police, 
who  peremptorily  required,  that  he  fhould 
perfonally  wait  upon  him,  in  order  to  fhew 
his  credentials. 

The  pretty  and  fplendid  feafls,  and  all  the 
fine  fports  during  the  flay  of  the  King  of 
Etruria,  had  neverthelefs  fomc  good  efFefts. 
The  Parifians,  who  like  children,  eafily  for- 
get paft  injuries,  were  put  in  good  humour 
again,  and  heartily  difpofed  to  rejoice  at  the 
peace  with  England;  and  they  did  fo,  without 
troubling  themfelves  whether  Roederer  would 
call  them  favages  or  rabble.  There  was  no 
end  to  their  noi fy  mirth  :  the  official  congra- 
tulations took  up  feveral  days,  and  the  en- 
virons of  the    Thuilleiic.s    were    continually 


10  i  BONAPARTE 

crowded,  where  the  eyes  were  dazzled  with  the 
uncommon  brilHancy  of  the  furrounding  ob- 
jefts  on  the  great  public  parade.  The  cry 
of  "  Vive  Bonaparte,"  was  once  more  heard; 
but  the  populace  rufhed  on  with  fuch  impe- 
tuofity  to  fee  the  great  pacificator,  in  fpite  of 
all  his  guards,  that  he  was  compelled  to  leave 
the  parade  fooner  than  ufual,  and  rather  in  a 
precipitate  manner. 

Bonaparte  availed  himfelf  of  this  joyful  dif- 
pofition  of  the  people,  to  introduce  the  day  of 
his  counter-revolution  as  a  feftival :  peace  and 
this  event  were  therefore  celebrated  at  one  and 
the  fame  time.  Very  great  and  expenfive  pre- 
parations were  made ;  but  the  whole  of  this 
feafl:  was  far  from  being  in  the  republican,  but 
rather  in  the  old  court  ftyle.  Not  the  exten- 
fivc  field  of  Mars,  nor  the  Elyfian  fields,  but 
the  moft  confined  part  of  the  Thuillerics  was 
the  fpot  chofen.  The  populace  were  forced 
to  remain  at  a  diRancc  in  the  dirty  llrcets. 
and    neii^hbourin'?    places,   during  the   rain. 


AND  THE  FRENXII  PEOPLE.  105 

There  was  certainly  matter  enough  to  be 
looked  at.  Air-balloons,  fire-works,  water- 
works, and  a  fort  of  military  pantomime,  in 
which  all  nations  were  reprefented,  with  whom 
France  had  been  at  war.  The  Parifians,  na- 
turally fond  of  fliow,  were  not  to  be  kept  at 
home.  In  fpite  of  the  unfavorablenefs  of 
the  weather,  they  remained  there  in  crowds 
from  morning  till  night,  to  enjoy  all  thcfe  ra- 
rities ;  and  at  noon,  when  it  began  to  clear 
up  a  little,  and  Bon:^paric  fliewed  himfelf  at 
the  v/itidow  of  his  palace,  tliey  repeatedly 
ciiccrcd  r.nd  filiited  him  with  the  cry  of 
'•  \'ive  i^j'i.ip.irte."  In  tlie  interior  of  the 
pahicc  there  was  alfo  great  njoicing.  Bona- 
parie  wo'.c,  for  the  firil  time,  at  the  hilt  of 
his  iword,  Viic  precious  diamond,  once  the 
oMi:tmcnt  ol  the  crown. 

To  the  quiet  obicrv'er,  who  is  not  fjlcly 
intent  on  oaf,v\ud  ghtter,  and  who  had, 
perhaps,  rctncd  to  France,  in  order  to  crc:n)e 
Lfic    t}Tanny    of   his    de'pot    at    ho:n-.\     this 

r 


106  BONAPARTE 

highly  celebrated  peace  with  the  powers,  and 
particularly  with  Ruflia,  'muft  be  a  matter  of 
regret,  and  a  (landing  teftimony  of  the  humi- 
liation of  mankind. 

The  Firfl;  Conful,  an  upftart,  who,  by  the 
will  of  the  French  people,  or  rather  by  their 
paflive  fubmiffion,  and  his  own  cunning,  had 
become  their  abfolute  mafler  ;  and  a  prince 
born,  the  unlimited  emperor  of  a  defpotic  coun- 
try, mutually  engage  to  take  care  of  their  own 
perfonal  fecurity,  and  of  that  of  their  coun- 
try. Thcfe  two,  who,  according  to  the 
alTertions  of  their  flatterers  and  flavcs,  Hand 
oppofite  to  one  another,  like  the  good  and 
the  fallen  angel,  offer  their  hands  and  hearts, 
and  promife  cordially  to  co-operate  in  put- 
ting every  perfon  out  of  the  prote6lion  of 
the  law,  who  Ihall  fall  under  the  fufpicion  of 
inimical  defi<:ns  to  either.* 


''   The  rcin;;ik;;Lli.   article  in  the  tre;ity  of  juacc  between  l''ranic 
r.ivl  Ru'.I'i:!,  to  wLiili  tJ.i^  rcitrs,   c(u;t.iii!i  liie  loUowin^-   vvordi.  :  — 


Ai\D  TITH  FllENCII  PEOIH.K.  lez 

Poor  Paul  had  made  the  painful  experience 
too  foon,  that  they  were  no  travelling  French- 
men whooppofed  him*  He  died  too  early  foi* 
the  northern  coalition,  and  its  defigns.  The 
compafTionate  friend  of  mankind  can  c5nly 
mourn  for  the  brave  Danes,  '.vho  flicd  their 
blood  for  their  country,  and  flood  forward 
with  true  patriotic  courage,  to  defend  it  againd 
Britifh  fuperiority.  Worthy  of  praifc,  and  of 
Lifting  glory,  are  all  thofc,  who  gallantly  rife 
in  the  deciding  moment  of  common  danger, 
and  bravely  ftand,   without  looking  back  to 


''  Lcs  (l^ux  p:'.rtic3  contnuflaiitcs  voulaiit,  aut.mt  ou'il  t  ft  en 
Icur  pouvoir,  coiitribuer  a  la  tranquillity'  dcs  gouvvrnenicnts  ri.1- 
pcdit's,  I'j  promcttciit  nuitucllcmciit  ilc  iic  pa-:.  foulFrir,  (ju'au.:un 
dc  kiirs  fii'n ts  fc-  p'.rnicrtc  ci'entrotcnir  unc  corrcip^-ndanoj  iji;cl- 
conquc,  foit  dircclc  ioit  indircdc,  avcc  lev  cnncnu*  intcr'mr.-.  il;i 
gouvLTncniciit  artucl  dcs  deux  ctats,  d'y  prcijr.urcr  dcj  priivjinc-; 
cciUraircs  a.  Icurs  cor.ilitutioiij  rclpeftivu,  ou  d'y  tum:ntii-  dj- 
troubki ;  ct  par  line  !\iitt  de  cc  concert,  ttnu  i'uj.t  de  i'l.iu- des 
deux  pniirai'.jcs,  qui,  en  Icjournant  d;'.ns  ki  ctats  dc  Tautre  attct:- 
t.rait  a  la  furct::,  ilr;;  de  (uitr  cloij^ui'  dtu  dir  pay-  et  tranlp'.rt: 
hot'  dcs  ffdiuicre-,  Lms  pouvoir  cii  nuciui  cfts  fc  r^ci:snicr  d:  !i 
P'eteclicn  de  Ibii  go",-vernemcnt." 


108  BOXAP/iRTE 

perfonal  intereft  and  fafety.  So  did  the 
Danes;  and  this  noble  deed  has  certainly 
proved  the  worth  of  that  nation  to  its  neigh- 
bours, and  to  all  Europe. 

Bonaparte  had,  indeed,  great  caufe  to  re- 
joice at  his  new  connexion  with  Paul,  which 
was  fo  ibon  and  lo  unexpeftedly  followed  by 
the  very  advantageous  peace  with  England  ; 
for  though  Alexander  kept  the  peace,  once 
concluded,  he  certainly  would  not  have  made 
it,  nor  would  he  ever  have  done  any  thin:^  to 
promote  a  treaty  fo  very  di"(iidvantageous  to 
Gieat  Britain.  A  treaty  of  peace  between 
Alexander  and  Bonaparte  would  not  have  in- 
cluded the  former  article.  Whilfl  Bonaparte 
flrives  to  annihilate  all  civil  and  political  li- 
berty in  France,  Alexander  prepares  for  his 
extcnilve  empire  that  rcafonable  freedom,  by 
which  the  happy  and  contented  exiflence  of 
a  monarch,  and  t]::e  comfort  and  U'clfare  of 
ihe  people  are  equally  fecured,  and  which 
aiiaches  the  latter  to  their  kind  ruler,  by 
the  blelfed  tie  of   aratitude. 


AXD  THE  FRENTH  PEOPLE.  loo 

But  Bonaparte  is  an  utter  flrangcr  to  fcnti- 
mcnts  of  humanity.  Even  the  prcfcnt  confti- 
tution,  whicli  fprings  from  his  own  arbitrary 
will,  began  to  difplealc  him;  for  he  thought 
liimfelf  flill  too  mucli  conflraincd  by  it. 
"W^ilh  the  afnflancc  of  his  tiun\-  foivants,  he 
now  fct  about  iiaming  another,  from  which  he 
might  have  full  power  to  do  what  he  plcafcd. 
The  law  ivas  to  place  hin%  for  the  future,  above 
all  contradiction  or  refifLance.  Still,  Iiow- 
ever,  previous  to  any  other  confidcration,  l:c' 
thoTight  proper  to  gi'.'c  his  new  created  Cifal- 
pine  Republic  a  conflitution  that  fiiould  ferve 
as  an  introdu61orv  flcp  for  his  new  one,  in 
regard  to  France.  He  ftricily  adhered  to  his 
iormer  'oolicv,  of  pro:2re{rn-elv  difDofin-^  the 
light-headed  French  to  every  injurious  inno- 
vation. He  would  give  them  an  in{lru6livc 
example  in  tlie  new  Italian  IvepubliCj  where 
no  rchflance  was  probable,  and  where  public 
!ibi  rty  is  a  thing  quite  unknown. 

\  V.  ->tion.d  depu(:iiion  of  t  50  inhabitants  ot 


1  iO  liONAPAR'l'E 

the  Cifalpine  Republic,  from  the  nobility,  the 
clergy,  the  commons,  the  military  corps,  the 
learned,  and  the  eminent  citizens  of  all  claflcs, 
had  been  ordered  by  Bonaparte  to  proceed  to 
Lyons,   in   order  to  fettle  with  him  the  nev\r 
conflitution,  and  had  already  been  there  fe- 
veral  weeks  waiting  for  his  arrival.     The  mi- 
niflcr   of  foreign   affairs    had   alfo  left    Paris 
fome  weeks  before,  to  proceed  to  Lyons ;  but 
Bonaparte  was  retained  by  fears   for  his  life 
and  the  fafety  of  his  family.    The  mod  hete- 
rogeneous reports,  of  cxtenfive  and  dangerous 
plots  were  whifpered  into  his  cars  ;   the  mofl 
extraordinary  meafures   were  adopted   for  his 
ieciuity  ;  a  great  number  were  taken  up  ;  the 
prifons  of  Paris  were  filled  with  fufpefted  per- 
fons ;   the  mofl  renowned  generals  were   fent 
away  from  the  capital ;   and  either  exiled  to 
their  country  feats,  or  to  diftant  departments ; 
many  of  the  mofl  celebrated  ftatefmen,  Barras, 
Rewbel,    Tallien,    and  many  citizens  of  lefs 
note,    received  the    fame    coviplimmt :    they 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  1 1 1 

were  alfo  fent  into  the  provinces,  and  placed 
under  the  fpecial  infpedlion  of  the  pohce; 
many  of  the  returned  emigrants,  of  both 
(exes,,  met  with  the  fame  fate  ;  even  old  La 
Harpe  had  the  honor  of  being  reckoned 
among  the  number  of  thefe  unjuflly  pcrfe- 
cuted  victims  of  foul  fufpicion;  and  was 
accordingly  baniflicd. 

Foreign  powers  were  requcfted  to  take  up 
all  emigrants  living  in  their  dominions,  and 
fubjedl  them  to  a  flri6i  examination. 

The  family  of  the  Firll  Conful  were  cele- 
brating in  the  mean  time  the  marriage  of  his 
third  brother,  Louis  Bonaparte,  with  Made- 
moifellc  Beauharnois,  his  wife's  dauizhLer  bv  a 
former  marriage.  A  houfe,  lately  inhabited 
by  the  Firft  Conful  himfelf,  had  been  mofl. 
Inperbly  fitted  up  for  the  new  married  couple. 
A  fmall  chapt.l  had  been  likewife  prepared  ii*. 
tliis  houfc,  where  the  Cardinal  Caprara  was  to 
join  this  no]>le  pair.  General  Murat,  brother- 
in-law  to  tlic  r'irfl  Conful,  alG.)  thought  it 
proper  to  hive  the  coreinony  of  Lms  marriage 


112  BONAPARTE 

perfoimcd  again  by  this  mofl  holy  man  ;  and 
thus,  perhaps,  gave  the  fignal  for  endlefs 
commotions  with  tlie  pricfts.  Bonaparte  faid 
to  the  cardinal,  when  he  privately  united  his 
dearly  beloved  daughter-in-law,  That  thefe  fo- 
lemn  a£ls  in  his  family  fhould  not  always  be 
performed  fecretly,  but  that  he  hoped  foon 
to  be  able  to  make  them  more  fplendid.  Bo- 
naparte was  absolutely  inacccllible  during  that 
period.  Meafures  of  fafety  were  deliberated 
on  at  night  by  the  council  of  flate,  and  none 
but  the  mofl  trully  members  were  invited  to 
it.  Even  the  two  ether  Confuls  were  not  al- 
'  ways  prcicnt.  The  police  received  inflrudlions 
to  execute  thcni  with  the  utmoft  i'ecrecy,  and 
the  newspapers  were  ftriclly  forbidden  to  make 
the  Icafl  mention  of  them.  Even  the  minifler 
of  police,  Fouche.  fell  under  fufpicion,  and 
was  clofcly  watched.  After  having  taken 
every  precaution,  to  fecure  his  perfonal  f'afetv 
during  the  journey  to  Lyons,  Bonaparte  at  lafh 
let  out  ill  the  night,  accompanied  by  his  wife, 
fomc    generals   in   his   confidence,    and    his 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  .113 
guards.  The  whole  road,  from  Paris  to  Ly- 
ons, was  filled  with  detachments  of  troops  of 
the  line  and  genldarmcs,  who  alternately  took 
charge  of  the  Firft  Conful,  and  delivered  him 
to  each  other  like  a  prifoner. 

In  Lyons  itfclf  fimilar  meafures  were  ta- 
ken ;  and  they  went  io  far  as  to  order,  by  a 
public  decree,  that  the  people  fhould  not  press 
upon  the  Firft  Conful,  nor  aflemble  in  the 
ftreets  through  which  he  had  to  pafs.  The 
Lfuard  of  honor,  chofen  from  the  fons  of  the 
moft  refpedable  merchants  and  inhabitants  of 
Lyons,  was  not  admitted  dole  to  his  perfon  ; 
his  own  bod)'-guard  always  furrounded  Iiim. 

Many  Ligurian  deputies,  who  had  travelled 
to  Lyons  to  be  prefented  to  the  Firft  Conlul, 
had  a  few  conferences  with  Talleyrand,  and 
were    font    back,    without   havino-    (cen  him, 

o 

They  had  not  been  called,  nor  had  tiiey  afk- 
ed  leave  to  go  thither. 

The  Firft  Conful  treated  only  with  a  com- 
iTiittec  of  tlic  Cifalpine  deputies  about  their 


114  BONAPARTE 

new  conflitution,  by  which  they  were  to  have 
a  prefident  and  a  vice-prelidcnt.  He  at  lafl: 
notified  his  will  in  a  general  aflembly,  and  told 
them  plainly,  that  he  did  not  find  among 
the  450  deputies,  whom  the  Moniteur  had 
mentioned  as  the  moll  enlightened  and  de- 
ferving,  one  fingle  man  worthy  of  being  made 
their  prefident  :  and  that  he,  therefore,  had 
taken  upon  him  the  charge  of  this  new  dig- 
nity. The  Italian  alTembly  applauded  this 
part  of  his  fpeech,  with  great  eagernefs,  as 
often  as  he  flopped  to  take  breath. 

This  new  conflitution  does  not  admit  of  a 
free  reprefentation  of  the  people,  nor  does  it 
feparate  the  legiflative  from  the  executive 
power.  All  the  numerous  expenfive  courts 
which  it  ordains,  are  nothing  but  mere  tools 
in  the  hands  of  the  prefident.  It  was,  never- 
thelefs,  highly  extolled  by  a  fet  of  ferviic 
French  writers  and  politicians.  Rcedererpaifcd 
great  eulogies  on  the  87th  article  of  this  con- 
flitution, by  which  it  was  decreed,  that  a  fpe- 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLi;.  115 

cial  committee  fliould  be  appointed,  who  were 
privately  to  deliberate  on  the  new  laws  with 
the  council  of  date,  lie  recommended  a 
fimilar  one  to  France. 

Weary  of  feafls,  flatteries,  and  cringing, 
lie  returned,  a  fortnight  after,  ible  regent  of 
a  new  republic,  in  downright  contradiftion  to 
the  provilions  of  the  French  conflitutional 
law  :  the  fame  military  meafures  were  adopt- 
ed for  the  fafety  of  his  return.  The  mayoif 
of  Lyons  received  a  fcarf  of  honour  as  a  re- 
ward of  his  affiduity  and  fubmifTion. 

The  orders  fent  to  all  publilhers  of  newf- 
papers,  by  which  they  were  prohibited  to 
notice  any  innovation  and  meafure  of  fafety. 
had  given  birth  to  a  written  bulletin,  which 
was  diftributed  at  Paris,  and  frequently  fent 
abroad.  The  minifter  of  police,  Fouche, 
difcovered  at  Lift  the  author  to  be  one  FouiL 
haux  ;  he  had  him  taken  up,  and  fentenced 
him  to  deportation.  The  Conful  was  much 
vexed  at  finding,  after  his  return,  that  this 


116  BONAPARTE 

very  fame  bulletin  was  still  continued  by  the 
Courier  de  Londres,  publiflicd  in  London. 
Offended  inthehigheft  degree  at  thefe  public 
expofures  of  his  chara6ler,  and  fooliflily  ima- 
gining that  he  could  ftifle  the  public  voice 
abroad,  with  the  fame  facility  as  he  had  done 
in  France,  he  ordered  De  Montlofier,  a 
French  emigrant,  formerly  the  publiflicr  of  a 
royalifl  journal,  "  Lcs  A6les  des  Apotrcs," 
and  of  late  returned  from  London,  to  fet  up 
a  new  Courier  de  Londres,  containing  a  kind 
of  official  bulletin,  which  frequently  made 
war  againfl  the  Englifh  newfpapcrs.  The 
editor  of  the  genuine  Courier  de  Londres  be- 
came more  darinfj  after  that  time,  and  Bona- 
parte  often  demanded  his  punifhment  from 
the  Englifh  miniflry.  A  formal  process  was 
at  lafl  inflituted  at  London  againfl  Peltier, 
which  ended  in  his  triumph.  Flis  journal, 
together  with  all  Knglifh  newfpapcrs,  were 
prohibited  at  Paris,  and  the  police  watches 
againfl  their  importation  with  incredible  but 
^lly  cffeclual  afTiduity, 


AND  THE  FREXCII  PEOPLE.  117 

The  official,  and  demi-official  papers,  the 
"  Monilcur,  "and  the  "  Dcfenfacr  dc  la  Patrit," 
publiflicd  by  iiourienne,  Bonaparte's  private 
fccretary  ;  "  the  Bulletin  dc  Paris,  "  under  the 
direclion  of  the  counfellor  ot  ftate,  Regnaud 
St.  Jean  d'Angely  ;  the  '•'  Journal  of  Paris/' 
under  the  dircQion  of  Roederer,  were  all  fully 
emplovcd  in  contradi6ling  and  relating  the 
reports  which  had  been  fprcad  during  the  con- 
cealment and  abfcnce  of  Bonaparte.  The 
Britifii  parliament  was  not  Ipared  in  the  leafl, 
though  the  negotiations  of  peace  had  already 
commenced  at  Amiens.  The  Moniteur 
thought  the  Britifli  rcprct'cntativcs  of  the  peo- 
ple ajct  cj  Tartars,  and  found  in  their  fpecch- 
cs  nothing  but  chikhlli  dilcuflions.  He  often 
taxed  them  with  flupidity,  abfurdity,  ridicule^ 
ccc.  All  the  underling  papers  eageily  copi- 
ed tliefe  yZi;(:/,''f^oz<i  7  Yy/ijr/^i  from  the  Moniteur. 
A  certain  paper,  called  La  Clef  du  Cabinet, 
which  had  attempted  to  take  the  airs  of  an 
oppofition  papcr^  began  to  notice  thcfc  abfurd 


118  BONAPARTE 

proceedings  ;  but    he   was   ordered    to  keep 
filence.     A  journal   called   Decade  Philcfo- 
phique,   which  ufed  to  infert  an  article  under 
the  title  "  Les  Affaires   de  I'Interieur,"    was 
commanded  to  omit  it  in  future.      A  mufical 
entertainment   called,   "  La  partie  de  chafTe 
de  Henry   IV."  that  had  been  got  up  with 
great  expence,  received  the    Confular  Inter- 
dict, on  account  of  fome  verfcs  in  honour  of 
their  mod  beloved  PIcnry,  and  his  dcfcend.- 
ants.      M.   Texier,  taking  advantage   of  this 
prohibition,  announced  it  for  his  public  read- 
ings ;  but  was  commanded   to   leave  out  the 
offenfivc  verfes.     M.   Panou   went  lo  far,  as 
to  offer   fonic    general   advice  in  his   journal 
"  Mentor  a  Corinthc,"  which  greatly  militat- 
ed  againft    Bonaparte's    proje6ls.      He,    the 
publifher,  and  the  printer  u-ere  all  taken  up  : 
the  printer  had  his  prclfes  fcizcd,  and  formal- 
ly confifcated  by  the  police.     The  publifher 
loft  all  the  copies  of  this  truly  harmlefs  pro- 
duction,   without  receiving  any  equivalent. 
The  author  was  deported  to  Cayenne. 


AND  THE  FREXCH  Pl'OPLK.  119 

A  young  and  merry  poet,  M.  Dupaty,  nar- 
rowly efcaped  a  fimilar  fate.  In  a  fatyrical 
play  written  by  him,  he  had  made  a  little  too 
free  with  the  awkwardnefs  and  arrogance  of  the 
new  ruler,  and  his  truily  fervants.  He  was 
■  ent  to  Brcfl  in  confcqucnce  oian  exprefs  or- 
der horn  the  Firft;  Conful,  who  was  already 
incenfcd  ac[ninfl  him,  on  account  of  his  being 
the  jovial  companion  of  his  brother  Lucien, 
then  in  dilgrace.  He  was  to  be  tranfported 
to  St.  Domingo,  on  board  the  hrft  fliip,  to 
fhcw  his  bravery  againfl,  negroes  and  mulat- 
tocs.  1  lappily  for  him  the  two  brothers  were; 
reconciled  before  tuch  a  veflel  failed  ;  and  hz 
was  pardoned  after  a  few  months'  impriibn- 
mcnt.  Thus  every  one  was  flruck  with  fear 
and  terror,  and  all  Paris  relounded  with 
praifes  and  bleflings  on  the  Firfl  Conful. 

The  definitive  treaty   of  peace   with  Eng 
land,   lo  eagerly  defucd,  on   account  of  ':h.z 
grand  St,  Domingo  fleet,  was  at  laflconchul- 
"1,      ij'.U  the  news  ot  it  was  received  at  Pari? 


120  BONAPARTE 

with  incredible  coolncfs.  It  made  no  favour- 
able impreffion  on  the  public  funds.  The 
coarfe  abuhve  language  of  the  newfpapers  to- 
wards the  Englifii,  was  changed  into  malicious 
fnecrs.  Their  mutual  anirnofities  did  not 
ceafe.  Bonaparte  finding  himfelf  fully  con- 
firmed in  his  power,  now  brought  his  proje6ls 
to  light  :  the  tribunate,  which  had  remained 
inaftive  fincc  the  famous  cleanfinrrof  its  flails, 
voted  the  prolongation  of  the  confulate  to  ten 
vears,  as  a  mark  of  national  cjratitude  towards 
the  P^irfl  Conful.  Sieyes  was  the  only  man 
who  declared  that  the  people  alone  could  de- 
cide on  this  mcafure  :  it  was  however  adopt- 
ed, and  the  rcfolution  laid  before  the  Chief 
Conful  for  his  approbation.  Bonaparte  very 
dexteroufly  availed  himfelf  of  this  fmglc  dif- 
fentient  vote  of  Sieyes  :  he  relufed  his  alfent, 
pretending  that  the  people  alone  could  vote 
him  fuch  a  mark  of  confidence.  I'he  two 
other  conluls  now  illued  a  proclamation,  by 
which  the  preparmg  oi  lifts  was  ordered,  in 


AND  THE  FRENXH  PEOPLE.  121 

which  every  Frenchman  might  give  his  vote 
either  for  or  againfl;  a  confulate  for  life.  The 
prefers  of  the  departments  were  commanded 
to  open  fpccial  Hits,  and  coHc6l  the  votes ; 
witliin  the  fhort  fpace  of  three  weeks,  all  liflr, 
mufl  be  clofed  and  Tent  in  ;  and  every  French- 
man, not  voting  at  all,  fliould  be  looked  up- 
on as  having  afTented.  The  tribunate,  the  le- 
giflative  bod\',  and  the  department  of  the 
Seine,  inflantly  voted  the  confulate  for  life. 
The  legiflative  body  ordered  tlic  prefcntation 
of  their  decree  by  a  grand  deputation,  and 
thus  clofc'd  their  pitiful  fittings. 

The  propofal  for  the  creation  of  a  nev»'  mi- 
litary nobility,  or  legion  of  honour,  met  with 
fome  oppofition.  The  will  of  the  mafter  was 
carried  only  by  a  majority  of  ^G  votes  againfl 
38-  The  re-introdu6lion  of  flaverv  found  IcU 
rcfiflance  with  thele  Jagc  Icgiilators  of  a  free 
people.  The  \otQS  were  211  againfl  G^,  and 
the  noble  aflembly  was  honoured  U'irh  the 
thanks  ot  government  for  its  amiable  difpofi- 

tion. 

p. 


122  BONAPARTE 

Books,  for  the  lovers  of  flourijhing,  were 
opened  in  the  mean  time.  Several  military 
and  judicial  manoeuvres  were  ufed  to  entrap 
votes.  This  colledling  of  the  voice  of  the 
people  by  infcriptions  on  lifts,  is,  indeed,  a 
genuine  invention  :  every  body  may  fign 
them,  when  he  pleafes,  where  he  pleafes,  as 
often  as  he  pleafes,  and  under  any  name  he 
pleafes.  The  lifts  are  clofed,  and  no  one  can 
find  out  when,  where,  and  how.  The  only 
thing  which  muft  aftonifti,  is  the  incredible 
difpatch  with  which  the  true  contents  of  an 
amazing  number  of  diff'erent  fpccial  lifts  are 
brought  to  public  knowledge. 

The  people  were  wrought  upon  in  all  the 
newfpapers,  whilft  thofe  lifts  continued  open. 
The  public  officers  at  Paris  figned  them  of 
courfe,  but  the  citizens  were  rather  backward, 
and  even  doubtful.  The  rainifter  of  the  police, 
Fouchc,  and  the  commandant  of  the  troops 
in  Paris,  ilFued  circular  letters  :  the  latter 
complains  of  difafFe6led  perfons,  who  wanted 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  123 

to  fow  diftrufl  among  the  people,  and  endea- 
voured to  prevent  them  from  giving  their  af- 
fent  ;  he  calls  upon  the  chiefs  of  battalions  to 
aflift  him  in  the  purfuit  of  thefe  disaflFcfted 
perfons,  who  wifh  to  diflurb  the  public  peace. 
The  other  folemnly  aflures  the  departments, 
that  every  thing  is  tranquil  at  Paris  ;  that  its 
peace  could  not  be  diflurbed,  and  that  no  plot 
exifled  againfl  the  life  of  the  Firft  Conful. 
A  great  many  lifts,  full  of  names,  had  already 
been  fent  in  from  the  departments,  before  looo 
votes  had  been  collected  at  Paris.  The  priefts 
ufed  all  their  influence  upon  the  common 
people  in  favor  of  their  new  proteftor  ;  and 
if  any  body  had  felt  inclined  to  give  his  ne- 
gative, it  would  have  been  of  no  avail,  as  all 
thofe,  who  did  not  vote  at  all,  were  looked 
upon  as  having  alfented. 

Bonaparte  delayed,  for  fome  time,  the  pub- 
lication of  thefe  votes.  The  minifter  of  the 
interior  fent  it  at  laft  to  the  fenate,  accompa- 
nied by  a  letter  from  the    Second  Conful, 


124  BONAPARTE 

requcfling  them  to  take  fuch  fteps,  as,  in  their 
wifdom,  tlicy  might  think  beft.  Ofthetranf- 
aQions  in  the  fenate,  nothin^T  was  known  :  but 
the  fovereign  will  of  the  Firft  Conful  was  ex- 
ecuted in  the  following  fingular  manner.  On. 
the  3d  of  Auguft,  when  the  foreign  ambafifa- 
dors  were  all  alTemblcd  at  the  levee  of  Bona- 
parte in  the  Thuilleries,  a  number  of  people 
entered  making  a  great  noife  in  the  palace 
court.  It  was  the  whole  fenate.  Every  fe- 
iiator  was  in  a  chariot  by  himfelf,  each  of  them 
accompanied  by  two  guards  of  honor,  befides 
a  numerous  cfcort  of  cavalry,  attending  the 
whole.  The  levee  was  interrupted  ;  the  cir- 
cle of  the  ambalfadors  opened  ;  and  in  came 
the  fenate,  with  poor  Barthelemy,  their  preii- 
dent,  at  their  head.  This  good  man  began  an 
emphatic  address,  in  which  the  unfpeakable 
fcrviccs,  rendered  by  Bonaparte  to  France, 
were  highly  praifed.  Barthelemy  told  him 
that  the  French  nation  wifhed  for  no  i^reater 
bappinefs,   than  to  live  under  his  controul, 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  125 

during  his  life  ;  that  they  entrufted  the  firft 
magiftracy  into  his  hands  for  ever  ;  that  by 
this  folemn  a6l  of  gratitude,  they  committed 
to  him  this  facred  charge,  in  order  to  render 
their  fittings  more  durable,  to  difpel  their 
fears,  and  to  dcHverthem  from  all  future  cala- 
mity. After  having  mightily  extolled  the 
greatnefs  o^  the  hero  and  the  regent,  in  war  and 
peace,  he  affured  him  that  the  fenat  conferva- 
zeur  fubfcribed  to  all  thefe  noble  fentiments ; 
and  concluded  a  pretty  long  fpeech,  with  the 
reading  of  the  Scnatus  ConJiiUum,  by  which 
Bonaparte  was  appointed  Conful  for  life,  in 
the  name  of  the  people ;  proclaimed  as  fuch 
by  the  fenate  ;  and  a  monument  was  ordered 
to  be  creeled  in  commemoration  of  the  peace, 
Bonaparte,  who  has  by  no  means  the  gift 
of  fpccch,  whatever  his  flatterers  may  have 
faid  on  tliat  fubjecf,  drew  a  written  paper  from 
his  pocket,  and  read  the  following  anfwcr  to 
this  addfcfs  of  the  feuatc,  who,  certainly  took 
hi  VI  i^y  fur p  rife  :  ''To  the  life  of  a  citizen,  his 


J  26  BONAPARTE 

country  has  a  jujl  claim.  The  French  people 
demand,  that  I  /hall  devote  myfelf  to  their  fer^ 
vice  ;  I  obey  their  will.  In  giving  me  now  this 
pledge  of  their  confidence,  they  impofe  upon  me 
the  f acred  duty  to  efiaMi/Ji  the  fyfiem  of  their 
laws  on  principles  of  wifdom,  liberty,  equality  ; 
and  the  welfare  of  France  will  befecured  againfl 
all  future  viciffitudes"  Many  praifes  on  the 
French  people,  thanks  to  the  fcnate,  and  a 
compliment  to  their  worthy  prefident,  con- 
cluded this  memorable  fpeech.  The  fenate 
took  leave,  and  a  volley  of  congratulations 
followed  at  laft.  A  council  of  Hate  was  held 
on  the  very  fame  evening,  in  which  the  new 
power  of  "  difpelling  fears,  and  removing 
evil,"  was  eagerly  feized  and  executed.  The 
fenatus  confultum  was  fent  on  the  following 
day  to  the  confervative  fenate  for  their  infor- 
mation. It  is  a  monftrous  thing  ;  it  entirely 
fubverts  the  conflitution,  and  renders  the 
Firft  Conful  more  abfolute  than  any  of  the 
princes  throughout  Europe.     It    could  not 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  127 

convey  any  power  to  Bonaparte,  as  it  had  not 
previoufly  pafTcd  into  a  law.  All  new  laws 
muft  be  fubmitted  to  the  difcuffion  of  the  tri- 
bunate ;  but  this  fcnatus  confultum  was  nei- 
ther laid  before  the  tribunate,  nor  was  it  pro- 
pofcd  to  the  legiflative  body  for  alTcnt,  as  the 
conflitutional  law  ena£ls.  It  has,  therefore, 
according  to  the  exifling  conflitution,  no  le- 
gality at  all.  The  a6ling  upon  this  fenatus 
confultum  is  the  greateft  ufurpation  poITible  ; 
it  is  an  open  violation  of  the  conflitution,  and 
the  whole  French  nation  ought  to  have  re- 
volted at  it  ;  but  they  had  lofl  all  power  of 
refiflance.  The  contents  of  this  fenatus  con- 
fultum are  flill  more  provoking  ;  by  it  all  true 
reprefentation  of  the  people  is  annihilated. 
The  reprefentatives  are  in  future  to  be  chofen 
by  general  affemblies,  whofe  members  are 
previoufly  cledlcd  by  fpccial  ones.  In  each 
of  thefe  a  prefident  fuperintends,  who  may 
avail  himfelf  of  the  aid  of  the  military  to  curb 
the   refractory  members.     Government  may 


128  BONAPi\irrE 

convoke  tliefe  affemblies,  or  fufFer  the  good 
people  to  remain  at  home,  if  there  be  any 
probabihty  of  oppofition.  The  members  of 
the  elefting  affembly  are  alfo. generally  mem- 
bers of  the  legion  of  honor,  or  military  cha- 
rafters,  and  have  a  pcnfion  for  life  from  go- 
vernment, in  order  that  they  may  be  quite  in- 
dependent, and  have  no  inducement  to  pleafe 
the  people.  The  prefidents  of  both  affem- 
blies are  appointed  by  government  at  every 
ele6lion.  If  they  conduft  themfelvcs  proper- 
ly, they  may  be  re-elected.  The  right  of  elec- 
tion is,  therefore,  taken  from  the  people. 

The  Firft  Conful  is  alfo  fccured  by  it  againft 
all  legal  refiftance  or  contradi6lion  in  future. 
The  adminiflration  of  juftice,  and  the  crimi- 
nal jurifdiftion  are  at  his  difpofal.  The  55th 
article  of  the  fenatus  confultum  is  a  mafler- 
piecc  m  this  refpe6l;  it  is  a  final  verdift  ;  it 
runs  thus  :  '•'  1.  The  fcnate  has  the  power  to 
fufpend  the  funftions  of  juries,  in  all  the  dif- 
ferent departments,  for  five  years,  whenever 


AND  THE  VRENCH  PEOPLE.  129 

it  fliall  think  fuch  a  meafure  neceffary.  2.  The 
fcnatc  mav  declare  whole  departments  out  of 
the  benefit  of  tlie  conflitution,  whenever  cir- 
cumflances  (liall  require  it.  3.  The  fenate  is 
to  determine  at  what  time  all  prifoners  fliall 
be  brought  to  trial,  if  it  cannot  take  place 
within  the  prefcribed  ten  days  after  their  arrcfl. 
4.  The  fenate  may  annul  the  judgments  of  the 
civil  and  criminal  courts  of  juflice,  if  the 
fafety  of  the  flatc  is  found  to  be  endangered 
by  them  ;  the  fcnatc  fhall  dlUblve  the  legifla- 
tivc  body  and  the  tribuii.itC;  and  appoint 
the  confuls." 

The  tribunate  and  the  legiflative  bodv, 
hitherto  propofed,  in  concurrence  with  the 
Firfl  Conful,  the  candidate  to  fill  up  the  va- 
cancics  in  the  ienate.  This  is  no  more  the 
cafe  ;  the  L'irft  Conful  has  now  taken  tliis 
triple  charge  upon  himfelf  alone,  to  prevent 
any  difappointmcnt  in  future. 

The  former  law,  wliich  ordained,    '•'  that  no 

one  fliould  be  chotcn  fcnator  before   liis  40th 

S 


l3o  BONAPARTE 

year,  and  that  no  fenator  fhould  accept  of  any 
other  public  office,  has  been  abolifhed,  in 
order  to  unfetter  the  hands  of  the  Firfl  Con- 
ful,  who  is  very  well  difpofed  towards  his 
younger  brothers,  and  his  favorites  among 
the  counfellors  of  ftate. 

The  tribunate  is  reduced  to  half  the  num- 
ber of  the  former  members,  that  it  may  be 
more  eafy  to  overrule  them;  but  if  they  Ihould 
happen  to  be  troublefome,  the  fenate  may  dif- 
folve  them  as  well  as  the  legiflative  body. 

The  fenate  refufed,  for  fome  time,  to  turn 
out  fome  of  its  members,  who  had  difpleafed 
the  Firfl  Conful  by  their  oppofition  :  and 
whofe  ejection  the  latter  demanded.  They 
had  not,  by  their  confultum,  fo  readily  agreed 
to  the  propofal  of  a  conful  for  life  ;  but  only 
granted  ten  years.  The  other  two  confuls, 
who  never  before  a6led  by  themfelves,  were 
then  in{lru6led  to  come  forth  with  their  pro- 
pofal of  a  confulate  for  life,  which  was  not  at 
all  fanclioncd  by  the  fenatus  confultum.    The 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  131 

grateful  and  generous  Firfl  Conful  could  not 
let  this  fervice  pafs  unrequited ;  he  could  do 
nothing  lefs  than  confirm  them  confuls  for 
life  ;  and  he  did  fo,  without  afking  any  body. 
The  fenate  has,  in  future,  no  prefident  of 
its  own  choice;  but  one  of  the  confuls  always 
prefides  there ;  nor  dare  they  pals  any  fenatus 
confultum,  unlefs  a  propoQil  have  been  made 
by  government  to  that  efFeft. 

All  royal  prerogatives,  as  for  inflance,  the 
power  of  concluding  treaties,  of  declaring 
war,  of  granting  pardon  to  criminals,  of  ap- 
pointing judges,  &c.  were  alfo  granted  to  th(^ 
Firfl  Conful. 

A  cotemporary  writer  has  powerfully  urged 
thefe  innovations,  and  concludes  his  notes  in 
the  following  terms  :  "  Thus  every  thin^  has 
returned,  after  an  unfortunate  roundabout 
way,  to  the  very  point  from  which  it  fet  out ; 
yet  with  this  difference,  that  in  former  times 
an  oppofition  of  the  independent  flatcs  and 
bodies,  might  be  (hewn  to  the  royal  pleafure; 


1^2  BONAPARTK 

•  Tel  ejl  noire  bon  plaifir,'  whereas  now  every 

body  muft  bo\vr  in  filence  under  the  confular 

majefly." 

The  Monlteur  announced  this  arbitrary 
fubverfion  of  all  rights  of  the  people,  and  of 
all  former  laws,  as  a  bleflfed  ftep  towards  every 
good  that  could  be  wifhed  for.  Other  news- 
papers alTerted,  that  the  equality  of  right  and 
fovereignty  of  the  people  had  been  moft  won- 
derfully fecured  by  thefe  new  provifions. 
Fouche,  the  minifter  of  police,  joined  in  the 
chorus,  and  fweetly  chaunted  the  praifes  of 
this  reftoration  of  all  the  different  ancient 
privileges  of  the  people. 

All  his  compliance  with  government,  all 
his  zeal  in  fpying  out,  in  arrefting,  and  in  de- 
porting his  iellow-citizens,  who  had  rendered 
thcmfcives  obnoxious  or  difagreeable  to  the 
Fivfl  Conful,  at  the  time  of  the  voting  for  the 
confulate  for  lite ;  all  was  not  fufficient  to 
maintain  him  in  his  place.  He  had  been  de- 
nounced to  the  Firfl  Conful,  and  had  fallen 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  133 

under  his  fufpicion  ;  the  place  of  miniflcr  of 
pohcc  was  therefore  abohfhed,  and  its  func- 
tions were  confided  to  the  prefeCt  of  poHcc., 
who  a6ls  under  the  dire6lion  of  the  prefent 
grand  judge,  and  minifler  of  juftice,  Reig- 
nicr.  No  one  of  all  the  miniftcrs  is  fo  gene- 
rally hated  and  dcfpifed  as  this  Reignier ;  and 
Bonaparte  probably  thought  him,  on  that  ac- 
count, the  very  pcrfon  upon  whom  he  might 
iTioIl  eflPeclually  rely  for  his  fecurity.  Fouche 
went  over  into  the  council  of  Hate,  with  feve- 
ral  other  psrfons,  and  now  fits  there,  tied  up, 
clofc  under  the  eye  of  the  defpot.  He  has 
gained  no  other  bcnefil;  from  this  tranfplanta- 
tion,  than  the  i'ecure  enjoyment  of  his  ef- 
ftates,  which  he  purchafed  to  the  amount  of 
feveral  millions,  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Paris,  whilfl  he  was  minifter  of  police. 

The  newspapers  and  journals  in  the  pay  of 

Ijonaparte,  who  of  late  had  made  it  their  duty 

10   ridicule  the  ignorance   and  political  per- 

•crlcncfs  of  fomc  antidcfpotic   critics,  and  to 


131  BONAPARTE 

infe6l  the  public  with  their  venal  do61;rinc 
about  the  wifdom  of  the  meafures  of  govern- 
ment, found  it  expedient  to  ufe  the  fame  arti- 
fice with  regard  to  the  abolifhed  miniftry  of 
police.  It  evidently  appears  from  their  para- 
graphs on  this  head,  that  there  are  three  diffe- 
rent branches  of  police  in  France,  the  joint 
care  of  which  might  be  too  dangerous  if  trufted 
to  the  hands  of  one  minifler  alone.  Of  thcfe 
three  different  branches,  the  one  is  called 
police  locale,  which  is  confided  to  the  com- 
milTaries  of  the  police,  who  have  it  in  charge 
to  watch  over  the  cleanlinefs,  falubrity,  and 
peaceful  order  of  the  city.  The  other  is 
c^iWcd  police  jiidiciaire,  which  is  to  be  in  future 
under  the  fole  direction  of  the  grand  judge  or 
miniftcr  of  juflice ;  its  duty  is  to  trace,  watch, 
and  imprifon  not  only  thofe  fufpefted  perfons 
whom  the  law  cannot  take  hold  of,  but  even 
thofe  who  had  been  fet  at  liberty  for  want  of 
fatisfaftory  proof,  after  having  been  taken  up 
by    government,   anj   who  are  ftill  looked 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  135 

upon  as  dangerous.  This  branch  was  in 
former  limes  committed  to  the  lieutenant  of 
police,  who  was  the  natural  prefident  of  that 
court  "  Prefident  nc  au  chatelet."  The  third 
branch  is  called,  '•'  haute  -police,  or,  police  gc- 
'iicrale."  It  extends  over  all  parts  of  the  re- 
public indifcriminately ;  it  may  feize  any  one 
fufpc6led  of  being  concerned  in  a  plot;  it  may 
lay  hold  of  any  troublefome  perfon:  it  has  an 
immenfc  number  of  agents  and  cmiflarics 
prowling  all  over  France,  who  may  call  on 
the  military  for  affiftance  whenever  they  chufe; 
they  arc  unknown  to  the  public,  and  are  al- 
ways acling  incognito ;  have  a  general  centre 
to  which  they  repair;  have  the  exorbitant 
power  of  feizing  any  body,  though  no  com- 
plaint be  alleged  againfl  him  ;  and  of  punifli- 
ing  even  on  bare  fufpicion.  Such  a  power 
might  have  been  too  dangerous  in  the  hands 
of  a  man  like  louche.  The  grand  judge  may 
be  better  depended  upon. 

Impiifonments    nnd    denortations  became 


136  BONAPARTE 

more  and  more  frequent,  under  this  new  direc- 
tion of  the  police ;  yet  they  were  carried  on 
with  greater  fecrecy.  The  temple  was  fo  full, 
that  it  could  hold  no  more  :  the  ftate  prifon 
at  Vincennes  was  accordingly  repaired  and 
enlarged.  About  60  perfons  of  all  ranks  and 
clafTes  were  deported  in  the  month  of  Auguft 
alone.  The  exiling  into  diflant  departments 
every  one  who  freely  and  publicly  ventured 
to  give  his  opinion,  had  no  end.  This  was 
moft  frequently  the  fate  of  emigrant  noblemen 
who  had  returned  to  France,  and  were  again 
driven  away  by  the  extremely  equivocal  and 
contradi6lory  conduft  of  Bonaparte  and  his 
minifters.  It  often  happened,  that  fuch  emi- 
grants, after  obtaining  warrants  from  govern- 
ment, by  which  the  reftoration  of  their  former 
eftates  was  moft  flri6lly  and  formally  com- 
manded ;  and,  after  proceeding  to  the  fpot  to 
take  polfcffion,  were  fent  back,  in  confor- 
mity to  fccret  letters  from  the  miniflcrs,  to 
the  prefects  in  the  departments,    by   which 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  137 

they  were  prohibited  from  executing  thcfc 
warrants, 

Thefe  unfortunate  noblemen,  who  frequent- 
ly were  not  poITcired  of  fufhcient  money,  or, 
perhaps,  not  having  cunning  enough  to  efFc61; 
the  rccal  of  thefe  fccrct  prohibitions  in  the 
fame  way  in  which  they  generally  obtained 
the  former  warrants,  could  not  always  brook 
in  filence  thefe  violations  of  juflice.  They 
grew  rather  loud  ;  but  there  wanted  only  a 
little  hint  to  the  police,  to  put  in  force  the 
provifion  of  that  law,  by  which  all  retanicd 
emigrants  were  placed,  for  the  firfl  ten  years, 
under  its  immediate  infpcftion.  They  were 
exiled  to  any  place  which  the  police  afligncd 
them,  and  compelled  to  fubmit  without  being 
permitted  to  appeal. 

Talleyrand's    uncle,  the   baron  d'Archam- 

beau,  and  a  returned  emigrant,  fufpecledof  a 

fecret  correfpondence  witli  England,   were  in 

the  number  of  thofo  fo  taken  up  and  exiled. 

Many  of  the  G[encrals.  tlicn  iivin;^  m  Par's. 
T 


138  BONAPARTE 

viz.  Maffena,  Delmas,  Augereau,  and  feveral 
others,  were  exiled  from  court  to  their  eftates ; 
and  thofe,  who  were  not  poffefled  of  eftates 
at  a  diftance  from  Paris,  were  fent  to  the  re- 
moteft  parts  of  France. 

Even  foreigners  were  treated  in  the  fame 
manner,  if  they  could  not  give  an  account  of 
the  letters  or  packets  dire6led  to  perfons 
abroad,  that  had  been  ftopped  at  the  poft-office 
and  confifcated  there.  Several  perfons  of  note, 
who  were  looked  upon  as  dangerous,  either 
on  account  of  their  connexions,  their  way  of 
thinking,  or  their  talents,  received  orders  to 
leave  the  republic.  The  famous  Mad.  de 
Stael,  the  daughter  of  M.  Necker,  a  lady  of 
real  genius,  and  polTeffed  of  confiderable  pro- 
perty, who  had  attrafted  the  particular  notice 
of  Bonaparte,  by  the  freedom  which  ftie  took 
in  her  writings,  was  fcnt  away  from  France  ; 
and  Benjamin  Conftant,  a  Swifs,  of  found  un- 
derftanding,  and  a  good  writer,  Ihared  the 
fame  fate.    Madame  de  Stael,  perhaps,  owed 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  135 

this  treatment  to  a  late  work  of  her  father's, 
publifhed  under  the  title  of  "  Dernieres  vucs 
de  politique,"  which  defervedly  cenfures  the 
mixture  of  a  monarchical  and  republican  go- 
vernment, introduced  by  Bonaparte,  in  order 
to  blind  the  French,  and  to  cover  his  defigns. 
Whilfl  Bonaparte  was  thus  clearing  his 
way,  a  journal  was  fet  on  foot,  to  combat  all 
former  principles  of  liberty,  equality,  Sec.  It 
was  the  vile  produ6lion  of  the  infamous  Bar- 
rere,  who  dire6led  its  bafe  attacks  chiefly 
againfl;  Condorcet  and  Camille  Jourdan.  It 
bore  the  title  of  '•'  Journal  des  defenfeurs  de 
la  patrie,"  and  flood  under  the  fpecial  fuper- 
intendance  of  Fouche,  then  minifter  of  police. 
This  execrable  Barrere,  this  cringing  fyco- 
phant,  the  villainous  fpeaking  trumpet  of  all 
tyrants  and  raving  monflers,  who  difhonored 
the  French  revolution,  is  flill  in  the  fervice  of 
government,  and  is  the  moft  aftive  member  of 
an  inquilitorial  court,  inftituted  againfl  men 
of  letters  and  learning.    He  ferved  all  parties 


140  BONAPARIE 

alike ;  but,  when  the  clecifive  moment  airived, 
he  ahvays  turned  ;  and,  by  this  fhameful  vei- 
fatihty  and  grofs  inflimy,  he  has  efcaped  all 
fentences  of  deportation  pafled  againfl:  him. 
Who  knows,  whether  he  has  not  two  different 
fpecches  quite  ready  in  his  deflc,  teeming  both 
with  curfes  or  bleflings  on  Bonaparte,  as  was 
the  cafe  in  the  time  of  Robefpierre  ;  but  I 
fear  the  prefent  defpot  will  hardly  give  him 
an  opportunity ;  for,  whatever  Bonaparte 
may  do,  and  how  pliant  foever  the  French 
may  appear,  he  will  never  think  himfelf  fo 
far  fecure,  as  to  relax  an  inflant  in  his  mofh 
anxious  cares  for  his  pcrfonal  fifety. 

This  attention  of  his  was  too  vifible  on 
the  2 ill  of  Auguft,  at  the  fittings  of  the  fe- 
nate,  where  Bonaparte  prefided  for  the  firfl; 
time.  The  governor  of  the  palace,  the  com- 
manding general  of  the  confular  guard,  the 
general  inlpcftors  of  the  genfdarmes,  of  the 
artillery  and  cn-inecrs,  were  ready  to  pre- 
vent any  accident  to  his  pcrfon.     The  whole 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  141 

of  the  confular  horfe-guards  and  mamelukcs 
clofcly  furroundcd  him  :  the  foot-guards,  and 
all  the  regular  troops  in  and  about  Paris,  were 
marched  up,  and  formed  a  double  hedge  with- 
in which  Bonaparte  might  fafely  pafs.  In 
Iiis  fuite  foll.Qwed  the  two  other  confuls,  the 
minifters,  many  of  the  counfellors  of  flate, 
the  fccretary  of  flate,  and  the  prefc6l  of  the 
police.  Some  of  the  fenators  met  him  at  the 
bottom  of  the  flairs  leading  to  the  palace,  and 
condu61;ed  him  to  the  alFcmbly  room,  which 
had  been  filled  with  guards.  His  brothers, 
Lucien  and  Jofeph,  who,  by  the  by,  arc  alfo 
members  of  the  council  of  adminiftration  and 
of  the  legion  of  honor,  though  the  conflitu- 
tion  does  not  permit  it,  took  the  oath  of  alle- 
giance (irfl,  and  the  reft  of  the  fenators  fol- 
lowed. This  oath  did  not  contain  the  mock 
terms  of  liberty  and  equality  :  it  was  unne- 
ccffary  here,  as  there  was  no  populace  to  be 
irnpofed  upon.  Some  counfellors  of  ftatc 
;^iid  orators  of  government  now  propofed  very 


142  BONAPARTE 

weighty  matters  for  the  fenaitis  confullum, 
which  were  of  courfe  inftantly  agreed  to,  and 
claim  particular  attention.  The  fittings  of 
the  fenate,  and  the  ceremonies  to  be  obferved, 
were  regulated  by  the  fir  ft  Jenatits  confiiUu7n„ 
The  ele6lion  of  the  members  of  the  legiflative 
bodies,  and  their  going  out  of  office  every 
year,  is  fettled  by  the  fecond.  The  third  re- 
gulates the  form  of  proceedings  in  cafe  Bona- 
parte fiiould  like  to  diflblve  the  tribunate  and 
the  legiflative  body  altogether.  The  fourth 
names  the  twenty-four  cities,  whofe  mayors 
muft  be  prefent  at  the  adminiftration  of  the 
oath,  which  that  citizen,  whom  the  conful 
might  fix  on  for  his  fucceflbr,  is  obliged  to 
take.  The  terms  equality  and  liberty  are  left 
out  in  this  oath  of  the  fuccefifor  likewife.  It 
Hands  thus  :  "  I  fvvear  to  prcfcrve  the  con- 
flitution  ;  to  honor  the  liberty  of  confcience  ; 
to  refill  the  introduQion  of  feudal  regulations ; 
never  to  carry  on  war  except  for  the  defence 
and  honor  of  the  republic ;  and  to  ufe  the 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  143 

power  intruded  to  me  for  the  benefit  of  the 
people  alone,  from  whom  and  for  whom  I 
have  received  it." 

The  poor  man,  who  has  to  take  this  oath,  if 
he  wifhed  to  be  fomething  more  than  the  fuc- 
ceiTor  apparent  during  Bonaparte's  life,  ought 
to  take  an  oath,  that  he  would  be  another 
Bonaparte  to  keep  up  his  conftitution,  if  that 
could  be  of  any  benefit  to  him.  But  I  fear 
that  alone  will  not  do  it :  and  if  Bonaparte  will 
only  be  guided  in  the  choice  of  his  fuccelTor 
by  fear  and  anxiety  for  his  life  and  Hifety,  as 
it  is  probable,  he  will  fare  like  the  i'on  of 
Cromwell,  if  not  worfe.  Many  think  that 
Bonaparte  intends  to  name  his  brother  Jofepli 
his  fuccelTor,  but  that  he  will  only  do  lo  in 
his  laft  will,  and  not  name  him  whilft  he  is 
alive.  Such  a  will  might  probably  Ihare  no 
better  fate  than  that  of  Louis  XIV. 

Bonaparte,  after  having  gone  through  all 
thcle  grand  ceremonies  and  proceffions,  on 
which  tlic  ignorant  gaping  rabble  greeted  him. 


144  BONAPARTE 

as  ufual,  with  loud  huzzas,  was  now  met  by  his 
wife  with  greater  exultation  than  ever  the  late 
unfortunate  queen  of  France  felt  in  meeting 
her  ^00^  Louis.  Both  could  now  fully  and 
fecurely  fatisfy  their  proud  defire  of  royal 
pomp  and  magnificence  :  their  prodigality 
knew  no  bounds.  Several  millions  of  livres 
had  already  been  wafled  to  fit  up  their  palaces 
in  the  Thuillerics,  at  Malmaifon  and  St.  Cloud: 
Hill  this  was  not  fufficient  :  St.  Cloud  was  to 
be  made  more  fplendid  than  it  ever  had  been, 
and  unlimited  orders  were  given  to  that  cffe6l. 
The  parks  adjoining  fcveral  country  feats  of  the 
late  king  were  enlarged  and  flocked  with  deer. 
Hounds  and  hunters  were  bought,  and  fome 
even  fetched  from  England,  though  Bona- 
parte is  not  at  all  fond  of  the  chafe.  To  the 
menial  fervants  of  their  houfehold,  who  were 
already  very  numerous,  a  great  many  more 
were  added.  All  kinds  ot  officers  cftablifhed 
at  any  of  the  European  courts,  were  intro- 
duced :    thofe  who  had  held  fuch  offices  be- 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  145 

fore,  were  eagerly  fought,  and  intruded  with 
thefe  important  charges ;  great  falaries  were 
appointed  them.  A  play-houfe,  in  imitation 
of  that  which  the  former  royal  court  had  at 
Verfailles,  was  built  at  St.  Cloud.  A  nume- 
rous band  of  muficians  was  provided.  Bona- 
parte appointed  four  prefefts  of  the  police;  in 
imitation  of  the  (ormer  gentils  homines  duroi, 
who  were  to  attend  his  perfon  alone,  and  to 
fuperintend  the  theatre,  the  performance,  and 
the  performers.  This  latter  duty  is  rigidly  ob- 
ferved  by  them ;  and  they  arc  not  fufFered  to 
turR  their  backs  upon  the  box  of  the  Firll 
Conful,  not  even  when  it  is  empty.  The  poor 
performers  dare  not  obey  their  author ;  when 
he  orders  them  to  fay  any  thing  afide,  they 
mufl  look  forward.  Madame  Bonaparte  has 
four  ladies  of  the  bed-chamber  affigned  to  her. 
who  are  provided  with  every  thing,  and  have 
befides  8000  livres  for  pin  money. 

Bonaparte  had  already  laid  hold  of  the  pre- 
cious crown  diamond,   which  now  glitters   at 
the  hilt   of  his  flate  fword,  and   is  hung  up 
U 


146  BOx\APARTE 

with  other  trophies  at  his  bed-lidc.     Madame 

Bonaparte  would  not  be  behind  hand :  fhe 
feized  upon  the  golden  toilet  of  the  late  unfor- 
tunate queen,  which  had  hitherto  efcaped  all 
thofe  fhamelefs  thieves  that  fprung  up  during 
the  revolution.     Madame  Bonaparte  is  bow- 
ever  daily  growing  more  ugly  fince  fhe  look- 
ed into  the  mirror  of  the  late  beautiful  An- 
toinette ;  it  certainly  was  not  the  tendcrnefs  of 
her  confcience,  which  caufed  fuch  a  fad  alter- 
ation.    In  order  to  introduce  into  their  new 
court   a  princely   magnificence,    they   want- 
ed that  which  neither  influence  nor  wealth 
could  procure,  viz.  a   numerous    retinue   of 
nobility.        Whatever   Bonaparte  may  have 
achieved,  and  how  far  he  may   flatter   him- 
fclf   with    havini^   fuccecded ;    however    afli- 
dnor;s   and    fubriiiiTive     Madame  Bonaparte 
may  have  been  towards  Madame  Montclian, 
(the  fui    dijant    wife  of   the    late    infamous 
Duke  of  Orleans'  father)  at  whofe  houfe  the 
moft  ancient  noblefle  ufed  to  alTcmblc,  fhe 
could  obtain  no  other  favour  for  herfelf  and 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  147 

family  than  the  admiffion  to  fome  of  their 
fmall  parties,  where  fhe  has  occafionaily 
the  honour  to  be  feated  between  dukes, 
marquifes,  counts,  and  barons,  and  to  hear 
thcfe  fine  titles  tinohnd  in  her  ears;  but  to 
draw  only  d-jtw  members,  and  even  the  moil 
unworthy  from  this  holy  circle,  in  order  to 
place  them  in  her  own  retinue,  was  utterly 
impoflible. 

Segur,  theex-mJnifler.  being  newly  appoint- 
ed to  a  high  office  in  adminillration,  indulged 
his  youngeft  fon  fo  far,  as  to  allow  him  to 
accept  the  place  of  a  vice  prefe6l  of  the  pa- 
lace. The  noble  league  inflantly  rofe  againfl; 
him  in  a  bodv,  as  he  was  reckoned  among  the 
high  and  ancient  nobility,  on  account  of  one 
of  his  anccflors  having  been  a  marcchal  de 
France.  All  the  citizens  with  "  de"  before 
their  furnamc,  who  figured  at  the  new  court 
in  the  liveries  of  prefers,  vice  prefects,  8<,c. 
were  looked  upon  by  the  rigorifh  as  the  fer- 
vile  and  icircr  nobilitv  of  fornK  i  tiriK:.-). 


148  BONAPARTE 

But  fortune  will  not  always  fmile;  her 
grcatefl  favorites  will  one  time  or  other  meet 
with  fome  impediment  in  their  way ;  fome 
obflacle  to  their  defires.  He  who  rode  tri- 
umphant over  Mount  St.  Gothard,  and  through 
the  fandy  deferts  of  Syria :  he  who  gives  law 
to  the  greatefl:  part  of  Europe ;  and  difpofes 
at  his  will  of  the  finefl  countries  :  this  mighty 
chief,  at  the  head  of  fo  populous  an  empire. 
feels  defires  that  he  cannot  fatisfy.  Calling 
his  longing  eye  around,  he  fixes  it  by  chance 
upon  the  faloon  of  Madame  de  MontefTan. 
It  happened  at  that  moment  to  be  crowded 
with  perfons  of  the  firfl  rank — "  Thofe  nobles 
fiiall  be  my  attendants,"  he  cries;  and  imme- 
diately difpatches  his  devoted  daemons  with 
invitations,  offers,  and  promifes.  But  pro- 
mifes,  ofiers,  and  invitations  are  inefFe6lual ; 
the  melfengcr  returns  difappointed  and  cha- 
grined ;  he  tells  him  that  all  his  efforts  have 
been  fruitlefs ;  that  their  demands  were  far 
beyond  what  he  would  acceac  to. 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  149 

The  angry  fearful  man  is  thus  compelled  to 
ftand  alone  on  the  pinnacle  of  his  newly- 
acquired  dignity  ;  watching  night  and  day 
thefe  rebels  to  his  will.  Their  w'ords,  their 
aftions,  their  looks,  are  equally  obje6ls  of  his 
fufpicion ;  not  even  a  geflure  is  fufFered  to 
efcape  him.  Alarmed  by  continual  fears,  when 
they  affcmble  in  great  numbers,  he  immedi- 
ately difperfes  them.  If  they  flee  back  to  the 
coafl,  they  are  driven  to  the  mountains ;  if 
they  take  refuge  among  the  rocks,  they  arc 
hunted  to  the  Tea. 

His  flaves  obey  the  hint,  purfue  them. 
and,  panting  for  breath,  return  to  catch  the 
defpot's  new  orders,  and  find  their  pale-faced 
mailer  leaning  on  his  ftill  more  pale-faced 
dasmon  ;  both  turning  their  fiiint  and  envious 
looks  towards  the  faloon  of  Madame  de  Mon- 
teffan,  the  re  fort  of  this  difobedient  and  ob- 
fllnatc  nobleiFc. 

But  to  return  :  thefe  noble  fuffcrers  are  the 
©nly  pcrions  wTio  dare  fland  in  oppolition  to 


150  BONAPARTE 

the  Firfl;  Conful.  They  live  in  their  own 
country  as  in  a  flrange  land ;  they  take  no 
notice  of  the  new  court,  its  feftivities,  or  bril- 
liant affemblies.  They  only  did  not  adopt 
the  new  fafhions  introduced  by  the  new  comers. 
Even  thofe  among  them,  who  have  faved 
great  eilates,  or  ftill  poffefs  fufficient  pro- 
perty to  live  in  a  fumptuous  ftyle,  do  not 
make  any  public  difplay.  Thcir  fmall  fociai 
affemblies  contain  alone,  what  may  be  called 
la  bonne  compagnie  ;  and  as  mod  of  them  are 
men  of  refined  manners,  and  many  of  them 
well-informed,  and  of  great  fame  ;  feveral  of 
them  the  mod  dillinguifhed  literati  in  royal 
France,  they  keep  within  their  own  circle. 
All  foreigners  of  education,  naturally  difgufl- 
cd  with  the  aukward  behaviour,  and  the  taRc- 
lefs  luxury,  ot  tlieprefcnt  court,  endeavour  to 
be  admitlcd  info  tlicir  focicty ;  an  honor  by  no 
means  cahly  obtained;  flill,it  mufl  be  owned, 
that  the  fine  Paris  of  old,  which  had  fu  much 
a,Uraciion  for   every  man  of  t'afle,   of  educa- 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  151 

tion,  and  good  breeding,  can  only  be  met 
with  in  thefe  felecl  focieties.  I  will  not 
blame  Madame  Bonaparte,  who  lived  as  maid 
of  honour  to  the  late  queen,  for  fighing  after 
the  only  refpeftable  fociety  at  Paris  ;  but  fhe 
mufl  renounce  the  happinefs  of  feeing  thefe 
perfons  in  her  fuite  at  court.  Many  in- 
ducements have  certainly  been  given  them; 
but  they  all  feem  to  fay ;  rcflore  us  the  old 
court,  with  all  its  appendages ;  that  will  be 
well  :  but  we  fhall  never  be  brought  to  ac- 
knowledge thcfc  upftarts  for  its  rightful 
owners. 

I'hc  very  caufe  which  renders  Mad.  Bona^ 
parte  fo  delirous  to  allociate  with  the  old  no- 
bleflfe,  mufl:  induce  the  latter  to  keep  at  a 
dillance.  There  is  nothing  of  that  politcr.efs, 
cafe,  vivacity  and  grace,  which  fignalii.jd  the 
focieties  at  the  royal  court.  Every  body  flares 
with  a  flavifli  gaze  at  the  Firfl  Conful,  who 
treats  them  indifcriminately  in  a  dry,  cold, 
and  harfli  manner.       He  fornetimcs  attempts 


152  BONAPARTE 

to  be  polite  or  witty,  but  his  politqnefs  is  a 
proud  condefcenlion,  and  his  wit  is  fatire. 
There  is  always  fomething  rough  or  low  in  his 
way  of  exprefling  himfelf.  He  frequently 
makes  ufe  of  terms,  only  to  be  found  in  the 
mouth  of  the  upftart  foldier,  and  profcribed 
by  all  good  company.  He  is  capable  of  ufing 
the  mofl  abufive  language  with  the  greateft  in- 
diflFerence.  The  tone  of  his  voice  is  deep  and 
hoarfe,  and  what  he  fays  is  often  accompanied 
with  fuch  a  difagreeable  laugh,  that  nobody 
can  feel  eafy  with  him,  even  when  he  attempts 
to  fay  the  mofl;  agreeable  things. 

The  highefl:  officers  of  fl;ate  mufl;  fometimes 
hear  themfelves  addreffed  by  epithets,  which 
certainly  never  efcaped  the  lips  of  a  fovereign. 
If  he  think  he  has  caught  one  of  his  minifl:ers 
or  privy  counfellors  in  fomething  contradic- 
tory, he  frequently  fays,  '•  voiis  etes  wi  hommt 
dc  mauvaife  Joi ;"  or — "  voils  me  iromptz!' — 
(You  arc  a  man  not  to  be  truHcd — you  cheat 
me.) 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  I5S 

He  ufes  no  rcftraint  in  this  refpeft  with  his 
own  wife.  He  can  pubHcly  addrefs  her  in  the 
fevercfl  manner,  if,  by  chance,  he  do  not 
approve  of  her  drefs  and  deportment,  as  being 
too  free,  too  improper,  or  unbecoming.  The 
beautiful  Mad.  TaUicn,  the  intimate  friend  of 
Mad.  Bonaparte,  when  once,  after  afomewhat 
long  abfence  of  her  hufband,  flie  appeared  in 
a  vifible  ftatc  of  pregnancy  in  her  faloon, 
which  was  full  of  company,  flie  was  ailccd 
by  him,  quite  loud  and  flernly,  how  fhc  could 
dare  to  appear  in  this  ftate  bclorc  his  wife  ! 
and  he  then  ordered  her  inftantl)'  to  leave  the 
room. 

The  prefent  wife  of  M.  Talleyrand,  who  is 
reported  not  always  to  have  a6lcd  the  part  of 
a  rigid  prude,  when  Madame  Grand,  was 
complimented  by  him,  at  her  firfl  introduction 
into  the  circle  of  Mad.  Bonaparte,  in  the  fol- 
lowing manner  : — ••  J'cfpcTc,  que  Mad.  Tal- 
Ityrand,  jcra  cv.bh.n'  Madame  Grand."  The 
poor  woman  is  faid  lo  have  anf'.vcrcd  in  the 


154  BONAPARTE 

gieateft  confufion — "  that  fhe  would  always 
be  proud  to  follow  the  example  of  Mad.  Bona- 
parte."— If  Mad.  Talleyrand  had  been  looked 
upon  as  a  lady  of  parts,  her  anfwer  might 
have  been  thought  a  witty  one. 

When  the  principal  fingers  at  the  opera, 
who  had  performed  Haydn's  oratorio  of  the 
Creation,  on  the  evening  after  the  explofion  of 
the  infernal  machine,  went  to  him  in  a  body, 
to  exprefs  their  joy  on  his  efcape,  he  faid 
to  them — "  vous  avez  chantc  comme  des  co- 
chons." 

At  the  diflblution  of  the  national  inflitute, 
when  it  was  again  divided  into  the  four  old 
academies,  and  the  latter  refufed  to  receive 
among  them  as  members  thofe  muficians  and 
players  who  had  been  admitted  to  theinftitute, 
Bonaparte  faid  to  one  of  them — "  les  mathe- 
maticiens  vous  jetteront  le  pot  de  chambre  fur 
la  iite,  ils  ne  veulent  plus  de  vous," 

Even  the  foreign  ambaiTadors,  who  are  re- 
fpeded  in  all  civilized  courts  as  the  reprefen- 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  155 

tatives  of  their  fovereign's  perfon,  can  never 
think  themfelves  fccure  againft  his  ofFenfive 
and  injurious  language,  neither  at  the  levee, 
nor  at  Mad.  Bonaparte's  galas. 

The  Britifli  and  Swedifh  ambafladors  have 
frequently  experienced  his  rudenefs  and  ill 
humor  during  laft  winter ;  and,  if  he  even 
chofe  to  fay  any  thing  agreeable,  it  was  ge- 
nerally directed  to  another,  {landing  near,  to 
whom  he  owed  a  grud'^^e. 

His  air  and  deportment  arc  indeed  more 
dignified  than  could  be  expe6led  from  fuch  a 
little  meagre  body,  with  an  unmeaning  yellow 
face ;  yet  even  there,  the  fixed  charafter  of 
the  inward  man,  is  difcoverable.  He  fhews 
by  no  means  that  humane  difpofition  and  fen- 
fibility  which,  added  to  a  noble  deportment, 
attraft  and  enchant  every  beholder.  This 
will  hardly  ever  be  his  happy  lot ;  and  of  all 
the  weak  and  cringing  attendants,  who  appear 
trembling  and  terrified  before  this  high  and 
mighty  chieftain,  few  will  be  found   with  a 


1 5ft  BOXAPARTE 

feeling  attachment  to  him.  They  will,  per- 
haps, appear  fatisfied,  when  they  have  had 
the  good  fortune  to  come  off  unofFended,  and 
more  fo,  if  by  chance  they  have  caught  a 
friendly  nod  from  him ;  but,  furely,  they 
mufh  watch  him  eagerly,  if  they  wifh  for  fuch 
an  honor  ;  for  his  fliff  neck  bends  but  flightly 
either  to  a  prince  or  at  the  fhrine  of  female 
beauty. 

At  the  grand  public  levees,  and  on  the  gala 
days,  which  are  regularly  kept  every  month, 
this  noble  pair  have  all  the  affe6lation  and  for- 
mality of  the  mofl  ancient  courts  of  Europe  ; 
the  bending  of  the  knee  is  the  only  ceremony 
not  yet  introduced.  Every  body  is  compelled 
to  appear  in  a  courtly  drefs.  The  Firft  Conful 
does  not  put  on  a  military  uniform  on  thofe 
days ;  but,  with  the  exception  of  the  bag,  he  is 
in  complete  court  drefs,  yet  always  of  the  fame 
cut  and  colour.  He  wears  his  richly  embroi- 
dered confular  robes  over  it.  The  two  other 
Conluis  arc  drclfcd  in  the  fame  manner ;  and 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  157 

his  miniflers  appear  in  their  flate  uniforms. 
The  uniform  of  the  counlellors  of  flate  has 
been  worn  by  him  on  a  few  occafions.  His 
miHtary  guard  and  liis  retinue  are,  on  every 
fuch  day,  very  numerous  and  fplendid. 

From  the  Second  Conful  down  to  the  lowed 
private  of  the  guards  at  the  gate,  every  one 
has  his  fixed  place  affigned  him,  which  he 
dares  not  leave  for  a  fmgle  moment,  and  where 
he  remains  immovable,  flaring  at  Lis  neigh- 
bour, who  is  alfo  fallcned  to  the  ground, 
v.'ithout  fpcaking  a  fingle  word.  Bonaparte 
alone  goes  the  rounds  in  the  circle  formed  only 
by  the  ambalFadors  and  foreigners  of  diflinc- 
tion.  The  miniftcr  of  forcie[n  affairs,  now 
M.  Talleyrand,  can  only  enter  this  circle, 
when  a  new  ambaflador  is  to  be  prefented. 

Bonaparte  fhould  always  have  this  piece  of 
fluff  at  his  fide  as  a  foil.  It  is  impoflible  to 
Ice  a  more  lifelcfs,  ill-fhancd  machine,  hun? 
out  with  a  wide  glittering  ftate  uniform,  than 
this  Tailevrand.      The  jreatrfl  relaxation  of 


158  BONAPARTE 

the  body,  with  hollow  cheeks,  and  a  death- 
like eye,  announce  the  profligate,  broken- 
down  and  enervated  fenfualift.  His  worn- 
out  carcafe  is  moved  on  flowly  in  Ihort,  un- 
certain fleps  by  a  pair  of  club  feet.  His  tardy, 
loathfome  utterance  Ihew  the  fatiated,  dis- 
dainful ftate  of  his  mind  ;  he  muft,  indeed, 
be  a  great  phyfiognomifl,  who  could  difcover 
the  fine,  cunning,  ex-bifhop  and  flatefman, 
who  dupes  France  and  Europe,  hy  this  dif- 
gu fling  lifelefs  cover,  by  the  fmall  remains 
of  fire  flill  vifible  in  his  eyes,  and  by  the  in- 
fipid  fallow  hue  of  his  complexion. 

No  Frenchman,  fince  Mirabeau,  was  ever 
lb  generally  and  fo  decidedly  flampcd  with 
the  double  chara6ler  of  the  utmofl  moral  de- 
pravity and  the  greatell  fuperiority  in  the  fa- 
culties of  the  mind.  Mirabeau,  though  he 
fignalized  himfclf  during  the  revolution  as  a 
ftatefman  and  orator,  though  in  full  poflTellion 
of  popular  favor,  flill  fhewed  great  energy 
and  art  to  eflablifli  a  conllitutional  monarchy. 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  151 

for  he  would  have  nothing  elfe  ;  he  deftroyed 
himfclf  by  his  extravagancies  and  profligacy, 
which  foon  brought  him  to  the  grave,  and 
only  the  fame  of  his  moral  turpitude  has  out- 
lived him. 

This  fenfual  phant  biOiop  of  Autun,  was 
from  the  beginning  of  the  revolution  the  friend 
and  companion  of  Mirabeau,  in  all  his  de- 
baucheries. He,  Talleyrand  Perigord,  de- 
icended  from  one  of  the  mod  ancient  families 
of  France,  was  the  firfl  who  refianed  his  cle- 
rical  dignity,  and  polluted  his  noble  defcent 
to  iidc  with  the  Tiers  itat,  when  they  de- 
manded in  the  national  alTembly  the  cquilifa- 
tion  of  all  orders,  under  the  dire61:ion  of  Sicyes 
and  Mirabeau.  He  formed  the  fccret  com- 
mittee with  Sieves  and  eight  other  members, 
who  drew  up  the  plan  of  the  firfl  conflitu- 
tion.  He  was  in  conjunction  with  Mirabeau 
and  Sieves,  the  firfl  founder  of  the  jacobin 
rhib,  and  afterwards  of  the  new  club  of  ja- 
« '.>])ins  in  1789.      He   was   the  firfl  who  pro- 


160  BONAPARTE 

pofed  the  general  fale  of  all  clerical  property. 
He  maintained  that  the  clergy  had  not  the 
right  of  fecular  proprietors,  and  that  it  was 
in  the  power  of  government  to  apply  their  re- 
venues deflined  to  defray  the  expences  of 
public  worfliip  to  other  purpofes.  He  flood 
up  as  a  champion  againfl;  the  clergy  and  no- 
blemen of  France,  who  demanded  the  Roman 
Catholic  religion,  the  fole  reigning  one  in 
France.  He  endeavdurcd  to  obtain  for 
Mirabeau,  Voltaire,  and  RoulTeau,  the  ho- 
nor of  being  depofited  in  the  Pantheon, 
formerly  the  church  of  St.  Genevieve.  He 
celebrated  mafs  on  the  altar  of  liberty, 
in  the  field  ol  Mars,  at  the  grand  fef- 
tival  of  the  federation.  Fie  confecrated  the 
colors  of  the  departments,  and  called  them 
the  facred  banners  of  liberty.  But,  as  foon 
as  the  conflitutional  party  found  itfelf  em- 
barralTed,  and  in  a  precarious  (late,  he  was  the 
firfl  to  delert  it,  and  had  the  art  to  obtain 
from  the  minillcr  a  fccret  mifiion  to  England. 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  161 

When  he  was  fent  out  of  that  country,  he 
fought  an  afylum,  with  feveral  other  emigrants 
in  America.  When  his  name  was  difcovered 
in  thole  private  papers  of  the  king,  which 
were  taken  from  a  fecret  defk,  and  on  which 
the  chief  accufations  againft  the  unfortuaate 
good  monarcii  were  founded,  he  was  put  on 
the  Hfl  of  emigrants  by  the  national  conven- 
tion. He  availed  himfelf  of  a  favourable  mo- 
ment, and  induced  the  very  fame  convention 
that  had  figned  his  profcription,  to  erafe  his 
name  from  the  lift,  and  to  rcinflate  him  '\\\ 
all  his  property.  He  then  returned  to  France, 
and  was  appointed  rainifter  by  tlie  directory, 
which  fuperfeded  this  convention.  Sieycs, 
who  too  well  knew  the  episcopal  renegado, 
came  into  the  directory,  and  Talleyrand 
thought  proper  to  retire,  loaded  with  immenfe 
riches.  An  unfortunate  honeft  German  was 
fubftituted  by  him  to  weather  the  ftorm, 
which   arofe  during  the  dreadful  epoch  of  a 

directorial   commiftion.      He    knew   how   to 

y 


162  BOXAPARTE 

fupplant  this  man,  as  foon  as  it  was  fafe   to 

re-cntev  the  miniftry. 

In  conjun6lion  with  Lucien  Bonaparte,  his 
confidant  and  companion  in  his  debaucheries, 
he  had,  in  the  mean  time,  by  fecret  intrigues, 
plotted   the    return  of  Napoleon   Bonaparte 
from  Egypt ;  he,  with  the  latter,  prepared  the 
blow  which  was  to  be  levelled  againft  Barras, 
the  firfl  promoter  of  Bonaparte's  exaltation, 
and  Sieyes,   the  old  rival  of  this  ex-bifliop  : 
they  fucceeded.     Bonaparte  flood  at  the  head 
as  Firfl  Conful,  and  Talleyrand  as  principal 
miniller,  by  his  fide ;    what  he  has  done  for 
the  laft  four  years,    whilfl  in  this  important 
office,    is   fufficiently   notorious  ;     but   it  is, 
perhaps,   lefs   known,    that   by   his  example 
the  mofl   infamous  bribery  has  been   intro- 
duced into  all  public  offices  in  France.   Bri- 
bery was  always  more  frequent  there,  than  in 
any  other  country  ;   but  fome  forms  and  de- 
cency were  ftill  obferved.      It  was  neceflary 
at  leafl  to  find  out  fome  pretext,  if  any  body 


AND  THE  FREXCII  PEOPLE.  i65 

wiflicd  to  move  the  heart  of  the  minifler  and 
his  undcrHngs,  by  the  grand  and  univcrlal 
foftener  of  feeHngs.  At  prefent  there  is  no 
need  of  it.  The  minifler  and  his  commiflary 
lay  exaftly  like  the  French  general  and 
his  quarter-mailer  in  an  enemy's  country, 
^'^  II  me.  j aid  tant," — (I  mull  have  fo  much.) 
If  you  refufe  mc,  you  fliall  have  nothing, 
whatever  your  right  or  claim  may  be. 

It  may  alfo  not  be  fo  well  known  abroad  as 
it  is  at  Paris,  that  it  was  Talleyrand  who 
chiefly  elfefted  the  recal  of  the  noblemen  and 
clergy.  This  man,  who  formerly  ordered  the 
feizure  of  their  property,  and  thereby  pre- 
pared their  proscription  ;  who  violently  op- 
pofed  them  when  they  wanted  the  reftoration 
of  the  catholic  fliith,  the  only  one  tolerated  in 
t  ranee,  now  labours  to  the  fame  purpofe.  He 
applied  even  to  the  pope  for  a  difpenfation  to 
marry  a  woman  with  whom  he  had  long  colia- 
bited,  and  whom  he  might  have  married  be- 
fore, like  his  other  brothers  io  iniquity.      He, 


ir,4  BONAPARTK 

the  trumpeting  advocate  of  the  rights  of  man : 
the  moll  ardent  combatant  againft  lotteries, 
and  all  kind  of  gambling  :  he  is  now  the  chief 
inflrument  of  a  government,  that  tramples 
upon  all  rights  of  men  indifcriminately,  and 
draws  a  very  great  income  from  lotteries  and 
licences  for  public  gambling-houfes  of  all 
kinds.  He,,  the  worfhipper  of  Mirabeaii,  Vol- 
taire, and  Rouflfeau,  is  now  the  handle  of 
a  defpot,  a  fworn  enemy  to  thefe  men,  who 
hates  freedom  of  opinion  ;  who  flrives  to  an- 
nihilate all  liberal  inflru6lion.  He  may  fay 
again,  as  he  did  in  his  late  defence,  "  I  am 
minifter  for  foreign  afFairs,  and  have  nothing 
to  do  with  the  home  department :"  but  every 
one  who  has  watched  him,  knows  very  well 
what  he  chiefly  aims  at.  Even  by  the  moR 
cxpenfive  and  fumptuous  ftyle  in  which  he 
lives,  he  cannot  fpcnd  his  mcomc.  He  looks 
upon  himfelf  therefore  with  the  mofl  purfc- 
proud  complacency  ;  and  treats  every  body 
who  has  to  deal   with  him  in   the  moft  arro- 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  165 

gant  and  contemptuous  manner.  Foreigners 
of  the  higheft  rank,  nay,  even  foreign  ladies 
of  diflinQion,  muR  be  prefented  to  him  in  the 
fame  manner  as  to  Bonaparte  ;  and  he  fcarce- 
ly  condefccnds  to  fpcak  to  them,  difpatching 
them  fometimes  with  a  hum  or  a  nod.  His 
pow'er  over  the  chief  conful  increafes  daily, 
and  muft  increafc,  as  he  is  the  only  one  who 
is  thoroughly  verfed  in  a  thoufand  things, 
which  Bonaparte  and  his  nearefl  attendants 
know  nothing  of. 

Another  pompous  ecclefiaflic,  clumfy  as 
he  may  appear,  is  Cardinal  Caprara,  who  has 
a  greater  influence  over  Bonaparte  than  per- 
haps may  be  iuppofcd :  the  power  of  thefe 
two  has  been  the  iubjeft  of  a  very  good  cari- 
cature in  Paris.  It  rcprefents  the  miferablc 
figure  of  Talleyrand  with  his  club  feet,  feizing 
both  hands  of  Bonaparte,  and  maki«g  liim 
dance,  whilft  the  imiling  and  limpering  car- 
dinal is  playing  the  fiddle.  This  print,  which 
no  one  will  daie  perhaps  to  expofc,  originated 


166  BONAPARTE 

with  Bonaparte  hirr^elf.  He  ventured  one 
evening,  when  only  a  fmall  party  aflfembled 
at  Madame  Bonaparte's,  to  dance  with  his 
dear  ftep-daughter,  Madame  Lucien  :  he  per- 
formed rather  awkwardly,  as  this  was  his  firfl 
attempt  of  the  kind — fo  moll  likely  will  it  be 
the  laft.  Even  on  this  merry  occalion,  he 
found  an  opportunity  of  fhewing  his  defpotic 
and  unfeeling  heart.  When  it  came  into  his 
head  to  dance,  he  took  off  his  fword  and 
offered  it  to  the  next  bye-flander,  without 
looking  at  him.  This  bye-flander  happened 
unfortunately  to  be  an  officer  of  rank,  who 
thought  it  againfl  the  point  of  honor  to  ac- 
cept it,  and  therefore  ftepped  back  to  wait  till 
one  of  the  fervants  might  come  and  take  it. 
Bonaparte  then  looked  at  this  officer  flernly, 
and  faid,  in  a  terrible  hoarfe  kind  of  voice, 
•'  Mais  cm  !  je  mc  fias  hicn  trompc."  He 
then  made  a  fign  to  a  general,  on  whofe  rca- 
dinefs  he  could  depend,  and  gave  him  the 
fword,  which  he  fnatched  with  great  eager- 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  167 

nefs.  When  the  too  punftilious  officer  re- 
turned home,  he  already  found  an  order,  by 
which  he  was  direfted  to  depart  on  the  next 
day  for  St.  Domingo.  A  young  officer  is 
reported  to  have  ffiared  the  very  fame  fate, 
on  account  of  hi.s  being  too  merry,  and  im- 
prudently jumping  upon  the  Firfl  Conful's 
foot. 

The  re-eftablifliment  of  the  Roman  Catho- 
lic religion  occafioned  another  caricature,  in 
which  Bonaparte  is  reprefented  as  falling  from 
the  arms  of  the  goddofs  of  Vi6lory  on  his 
nofe,  againft  the  holy  water  pot.  It  is  a  pity 
that  no  caricaturift  from  England  was  prefent 
at  tl«s  time,  to  obferve  the  awkwardnefs  which 
the  novice  fhewed  on  every  occafion.  Many 
public  ceremonies  might  liave  furniflied  rich 
matter,  as,  for  inftance,  the  manner  in  which 
the  perfonal  fafety  of  Bonaparte  was  to  be  fe- 
cured  on  Eafler-day,  the  grand  feflival  of  the 
rc-introdu61;ion  of  the  Roman  Catholic  reli- 
gion.     They   had  crc6lcd  in  the  church  of 


168  BONAPARTE 

Notre  Dame  (which  is  a  mafter-picce  of 
Gothic  archite6lLire,)  a  fmall  chapel  with 
wooden,  painted  columns  in  the  choir,  clofe 
before  the  grand  altar.  Bonaparte,  with 
his  fervants,  was  fhut  up  and  entirely  fepa- 
rated  from  the  reft  of  the  congregation,  in 
order  that  he  might  be  fecure  againft  any  at- 
tempt on  his  Hfe.  But  this  unlightly  build- 
ing did  not  only  fhut  up  tlie  paflage  to 
the  choir,  it  entirely  prevented  the  people 
affembled  in  this  fpacious  church  from  fee- 
ing the  altar,  on  which  high  mafs  was 
celebrated. 

The  more  than  royal  pomp  obferved  on  this 
occafion  ;  the  alTemblage  of  all  the  orders  of 
ftate,  civil  and  mihtary  ;  the  rich  liveries  of 
the  fervants  of  the  Conful  and  his  minifters ; 
the  foreign  ambalfadors,  who  were  ordered  to 
appear  in  their  coaches  and  four;  the  many 
coftly  trappings  which  adorned  the  family, 
from  the  crown-diamond  at  Bonaparte's  fword 
dovi^n  to  the  laces  and  robes  of  mother,  wife. 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  16? 

fifters,  and  fiflers-in-law ;  all  this  prefented  a 
mofl  remarkable,  republican  fight. 

Our  hero  was  met  by  the  high  clergy  at  the 
entrance  of  the  church,  while  the  guns  were 
firing  a  falute  in  honor  of  this  reformed, 
chriflian  king,  who  bent  the  knee  at  the  high 
mafs,  celebrated  by  the  Cardinal  Legate,  and 
in  return,  received  the  oath  from  the  bifliops. 
All  thefe  fine  things  and  perfons,  in  contraft 
with  all  thefe  grand,  political  and  fpiritual 
peace-makers,  the  honcfl:  Mamelukes  clofe 
by  their  fearful  mailer,  on  the  watch  for  the 
prefervation  of  his  facred  life ;  this,  indeed, 
was  a  curious  fpeftacle. 

The  Parihan  populace  was  delighted  ;  they 

vociferated  their  applaufcs   and  loud  huzza* 

around  the  fhewmen ;  but  they  betrayed  not 

that  fpirit  which  was   formerly  exhibited  at 

the    grand    follival   of  the  federation.      The 

police  ordered  the  houfcs  of  fome  flrects   to 

be  lighted  up.  and  this  illuminaiion  conclude 

cd  the  day. 

z 


iro  BONx\PARTE 

It  is  reported  that  the  letters  of  indulgence 
which  the  Cardinal  Legate  oflFered  for  fale  on 

o 

this,  and  thirty  fucceffive  days,  did  not 
find  many  purchafers,  though  they  contained 
a  full  abfolution  and  fpiritual  pardon  for  every 
lin  committed  during  the  laft  ten  years,  and 
for  every  one  who  would  go  to  confeflion, 
and  devoutly  receive  the  facred  hoft.  The 
common  people  even  went  fo  far  as  to  laugh 
and  pafs  their  jokes  upon  it. 

The  official  papers,  and  chiefly  the  Moniteur, 
exulted  in  the  pretended  harmony  of  the  Roman 
and  Proteftant  churches,  and  the  reconciliation 
of  all  fefts  and  parties,  under  the  banners  of 
republicanifm,  as  they  were  pleafed  to  call  it. 
They  rejoiced  at  the  defeat  of  fophiflry,  and 
at  the  grand  union  of  the  Gallican  church 
with  the  Papal  chair.  Some  of  the  adverfa- 
ries  of  the  concordat  certainly  fpoke  another 
language'.  The  conftitutional  bifhop  of  An- 
gouleme,  dc  Combe,  and  the  fcnator  ex- 
bifliop,   Grcgoire,  publilhed  iome  letters    to 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  171 

fhew  how  far  a  union  of  the  Gallican  church 
with  the  Papal  chair  might  be  carried ;  what 
degree  of  refpefl  was  due  to  the  legate,  and 
in  what  light  the  concordat  ought  to  be  looked 
upon.  They  were  very  impertinent  in  their 
alTertions,  and  maintained  that  they  had  no 
need  of  pardon,  but  that  they,  on  the  con- 
trary, had  the  right  to  pardon  others.  The 
legate  demanded  a  recantation,  which  they 
refufcd.  The  forgivenefs  he  offered  was  re- 
ie£led  with  contempt.  He  is  flill  evcfry 
where  expofed  to  the  witticifm  of  the  pailo- 
fophers,  and  to  the  accufations  of  the  mofl 
contemptible  among  the  conflitutional  pricfls. 
With  the  naturaliRs  and  theophilanthropiRs, 
Mr,  Legate  will  fare  flill  worfe,  when  they 
learn  that  he  has  now  obtained  from  the 
Conful    tlic    fupprcfhon  of    all  their  public 

meetings. 

o 

The  cardinal  writes,  indeed,  in  rather  too 
common  a  ftyle  for  a  refined  Frenchman,  He 
begins  his  ^rand  annunciation  of  induli^cncc 


172  BONAPARTE 

in  thefe  words  :  "  War  is  at  lail  ended,  and 
all  Frenchmen  rejoice  at  it ;  but  they  rejoice 
Hill  more  on  account  of  the  re-introduftion 
of  the  Roman  Catholic  relitrion,  and  the  re- 
covery  of  their  old  liberty."  After  many  low 
and  hackneyed  cxpreflions  in  honour  of  the 
P^irlt  Conful  and  the  Pope,  he  calls  upon  the 
French  to  free  themfelves  from  the  bondage 
of  the  devil  by  the  water  of  penitence,  and 
promifes  to  every  one  the  ample  forgivenefs 
and  remiffion  of  all  their  fins,  if  they  will  go 
and  confefs  to  any  prieft  they  chufe. 

For  the  common  clafs  of  the  nation  he  has 
again  been  too  ready  in  following  the  econo- 
mical ideas  of  the  Firfl  Conful,  and  abolifh- 
ing  all  holy  days,  only  leaving  them  four, 
namely,  Chriftmas,  Afcenfion,  the  Affumption 
of  the  BlelTed  Virgin,  and  All  Saints.  They 
certainly  are  not  kept  too  mucli  from  their 
labor,  nor  too  frequently  reflrained  from 
•Toingr  to  mafs  :  but  as  the  Proteflants  have 
now  more  holy  dixys    than  the  Catholics  in 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  172 

France,  and  as  the  common  people  are  rather 
inchned  that  way,  their  difpofition  to  turn 
Proteflants  may  ftill  be  increafed  by  this  cir- 
cumftance.  In  the  Prytaneum  and  other  Pa- 
rifian  fchools,  fuch  a  difpofition  has  frequently 
manifeflcd  itfelf  among  the  pupils,  and  their 
parents  have  not  always  refnfed  their  confent ; 
vet  government  has  prohibited  it. 

This  inclination  has  fliewn  itfelf  ftill  more 
in  the  departments,  where  whole  families  have 
turned  Proteflants  to  cfcape  the  hateful  ty- 
ranny of  priefls  over  their  confciences.  Among 
the  inhabitants  of  fevcral  towns,  at  Amiens 
for  inftancc,  and  at  Aries,  more  Proteftants 
are  to  be  found  than  one  fliould  imagine.  Go- 
vernment  is  very  attentive  to  this ;  and  it  has 
more  than  once  been  reported,  that  it  was  in- 
tended to  obtain  a  brevet  from  the  holy  Fa- 
ther, by  which  every  one  fliould  be  prohibit- 
ed from  changing  his  religion,  unlefs  particu- 
larly liccnfcd  by  government. 


174  BONAPARTE 

It  mufl  revolt  every  impartial  obferver. 
to  hear  that  all  thofe  men  who  are  now  placed 
in  the  higheft  offices,  make  ufe  of  the  appel- 
lations, ProteflantjEncyclopediafl,  Illuminati, 
Democrat,  Jacobin,  Tcrrorift,  Man  of  Blood, 
(homme  de  fang,)  as  denoting  one  and  the 
fame  thing.  A  Mr.  Fievee,  who  lately  pub- 
liflicd  a  fmall  book  againft  the  philofophers 
of  the  eighteenth  century  and  the  Englifh, 
very  properly,  and  with  great  naivete,  defines 
this  philofophy  in  the  following  manner : 
"  Pour  moi  loi'Jque  je  dis  philofophie  die  xviii, 
Siecle  jentends  tout  ce  qui  ep^  Jaux  en  morale^ 
en  legiflation  et  en  politique* 

It  is,  indeed,  as  if  men  were  only  capable 
of  impartial  and  found  judgment,  as  long  as 
they  fland  below,  and  inftantly  miftake  every 


*  A^  for  !iic,  by  the  philofophy  of  the  eighteenth  century,  I  un- 
•lerfcaud  whatever  is  falfe  in  ltgifl:\tion,  morality,  and  poh'ti't. 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  175 

thing  as  foon  as  they  have  climbed  up  the  hill ; 
or,  is  it  only,  when  placed  on  high,  that  men 
can  difcovcr  the  littlenefs  of  the  world  belovv, 
?.nd  the  folly  or  wickednefs  of  thofe  who  try 
to  foar  above  their  fellows  ?  If  the  latter  be 
vhe  cafe,  who  will  blame  the  tyrant,  if  fur- 
rounded  by  bafe,  felfiHi.  fbarnelefs  flatterers, 
and  hungry  flaves — if  greeted  by  the  abject 
rabble — if  dreaded  and  belied  by  all,  as 
far  as  his  eye  can  reach ;  I  fay,  who  will 
blame  him,  if  he  then  defpife  mankind,  and 
think  them  incapable  and  unworthy  of  ge- 
nuine liberty  and  true  wifdom,  whicli  mutt 
go  hand  in  hand  in  the  road  that  leads 
to  happinefs.  Who  will  blame  him.,  if  he 
yield  to  this  painful  thought,  after  having 
i^ecn  a  whole  talkative  nation,  overlooking  hm 
public  violence,  and  the  clandellinc  manoeu- 
vres, by  which  he  and  his  helpmates  raifed 
thcmfclvcs  ;  exhaufling  itfclf  in  all  the  terms 
and  cxpreffions  of  flattery  towards  him  ;  if 
»fter  being  publicly  extolled  like  a  god  by  his 


176  BONAPARTE 

execrable  and  fawning  ex-biflhop  :  after  feeing 
every  one  worfhipping  the  new  deity,  who 
will  blame  him,  if  fatiated,  and  loathing 
fulfome  endlefs  praifes,  he  defcries  a  mean 
orator  before  him,  beginning  his  fpeech  with 
exprellions  of  hypocritical  forrow  to  his  maf- 
ter,  who  endowed  with  godlike  indulgence, 
is  ftill  too  rigorous  in  not  allowing  the 
high  praifes  which  gratitude  is  anxious  to 
beflow;  who  profanely  fays,  that  heaven,  un- 
willing to  grant  all  celeftial  gifts  to  man,  had 
only  refufed  Bonaparte  the  courage  to  hear 
his  well-deferved  panegyric  publicly  pro- 
nounced. Who  then  can  blame  the  tyrant, 
if  he  trample  upon  fuch  mean  and  truly  con- 
temptible beings.* 

By    fuch    homages  offered   to    him  on  all 
fides,  and  not  interrupted  by  one  fmglc  found 


*  The  above  were  the  very  v/ords  by  which  Dutlici!,  the  traiifla- 
tor  of  Plutarch's  cffay  on  the  means  to  diftinguifli  a  flatterer  front 
a  friend,  addrcffeJ  the  Firfl  Conful,  congratulating  him  va  the  rei- 
teration of  peace,  in  the  name  of  the  national  inftitute. 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  177 

of  reproach  or  jufl  rcmonftrance,  the  intoxi- 
cated conqueror  mufl  forget  himfelf,  and  that 
he  has  ftifled  the  voice  of  truth ;  the  moft 
rcfolute  among  the  cunning  will  now  bend 
their  knee  to  the  tyrant,  whofe  fury  inflids 
an  equal  puniflrment  on  the  man  who  fpokc 
freely,  and  on  the  bravado  who  drew  his 
dagger ;  but  with  eager  and  revengeful  looks 
will  he  watch  the  moment,  when  he  can 
plunge  the  weapon  into  his  breaft.  If  the 
daring,  and  hitherto  fortunate  ufurper,  be 
not  the  moft  artful,  not  the  moft  watch- 
ful among  the  infidious,  not  the  quick- 
eft  to  puniftiment  among  the  revengeful ; 
he  will  not  be  fecured  againft  the  em- 
brace of  a  treacherous  Judas,  who  may  give 
the  fignal  for  his  deftru6lion.  Nay,  be  he 
ever  fo  obfcrvant,  ftill  he  may,  in  the  pre- 
tended embrace,  meet  his  doom. — Dre<idru{ 
exiftencc ! 

Bonaparte,    difgufted    at    ail   the  flatteries 

which  the   Parifians  lavifhcd  upon  bim.  now 
A     A 


178  BONAPARTE 

in  expcclation  of  the  Englifh  ambalTador, 
who  delayed  his  arrival  till  the  month  of 
November,  went  to  Rouen,  Havre,  and  the 
wcftern  coaft,  to  put  every  thing  in  a  better 
flate  of  defence,  and  to  receive  the  homage 
of  the  provinces.  The  public  offices  and  mu- 
nicipalities of  thefe  towns  were  not  backward 
in  their  compliments  ;  they  vied  with  each 
other,  and  poured  in  volHes  of  congratulations 
upon  the  Firfl  Conful  and  his  lady,  and  thefe 
were  mofl  gracioufly  received  by  the  noble 
couple.  The  municipalities,  the  clergy,  the 
citizens,  and  their  daughters,  always  dire6led 
their  fpeeches,  accompanied  with  prefents,  to 
each  of  them  feparately.  A  clergyman  in  his 
fpeech  called  Bonaparte  "  L'hojimu  dc  la 
droite  du  trh  haut,  qui  commande  le  rrjpcci 
et  I'ttonnemcnt  a  tout  runivers."  The  inno- 
cent girls  at  lieauvais,  who  under  the  protec- 
tion of  the  fpeech-maker,  might  have  drawn 
the  traits  of  their  hero  with  all  the  livelinefs  of 
their  imagination,  called  him_,   "  Le  herculc 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  I7y 

fran^ols ;    to  whom  they  offered  their  liba- 
tion and  gifts  (facrifices  et  libations.)     They 
muft;  have  been  thunderftruck   with  the  un- 
expefted  little,  meagre,  yellow  figure,  under 
which  their  hero  appeared.    Bat  hired  orators 
are  not  fo  over-nice  in  thefe  matters,  for  they 
fpoke    even  of     "  graces    ionics    piajfanlcs,'' 
of  "  verius,"   and  of  "  inipuijahle    bontc    ci- 
lejle  dont  voiis  tics  la  plus  Jcduifanic  image." 
When  they  addrelTed  Madame  Bonaparte,  the 
popular  air  beginning  with  the  words,     "  Oit 
pent  on  Hre   micux  qu'au  Jem  dc  fa  jamillcy 
which   had  b:^en   written  in  honor  of  Louis 
XVI.  and  his  beautiful  queen,    was  publicly 
fung,  and  applied  to  Bonaparte  and  his  '.>/iib, 
at  Plavre  -,  but  as  a  proof  hov/  far  the  Freacli 
had  loft  all  i'enfe  of   propriety,   they    com- 
plimented the   Englifh   ambailador   jud    ar- 
rived at   Calais,    with  the  fame  air,  and  al- 
moft  at  the  fame  time. 

People  abroad  could  not  find  out  the  reafon 
why  Madame  Bonaparte  always  accompanied 


ISO  BONAPARTE 

her  hufband  on  thefe  excuiTions,  and  why 
inch  a  train  ot  fcrvants  and  miHtary  always 
followed  them  at  tlie  cxpence  of  the  public. 
The  conftant  proximity  of  Madame  Bonaparte 
at  tabic,  and  at  night  (for  the  Conful  never 
dines  without  her,  and  always  fleeps  in  the 
fame  bed  with  her.)  is  nothing  elie  than  a 
well  calculated  manoeuvre  for  his  perfonal 
fafety.  A  thoufand  little  things,  tending  in 
appearance  only  to  their  comfort,  which  are 
carefully  obferved  every  night,  and  in  every 
houfe  where  they  chance  to  fleep,  would  ap- 
pear to  Frenchmen,  as  very  defpicable  little 
meafures  for  his  perfonal  fafety  alone.  Ma- 
dame Bonaparte  alfo  knows,  like  the  reft  of 
the  family,  how  to  infurc  fome  benefit  and 
profit  for  herfelf  from  thele  pretty  excurfions ; 
why  then  fhould  he  rob  her  of  the  opportu- 
nity ? — There  never  was  perhaps  a  princefs,  or 
a  favourite  miftrefs  of  a  lovereign,  who  was 
fo  eager  for  every  thing,  that  the  country 
and  the  inhabitants  can  afford,  than  this  wo- 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  181 

man.  If  this  be  cantiafted  with  the  unheard 
of  prodigality,  by  which  Bonaparte  enriches 
all  his  brothers  :  it  can  be  explained  either  by 
fuppofmg  all  the  French  and  Italian  members 
of  the  family,  infefled  with  the  meancfl  and 
moft  infatiable  avarice,  or  by  imagining  in 
them  a  due  Icnfc  ol  their  precarious  ftatc, 
and  a  defign  to  be  fomcwhat  prepared  for  the 
worft. 

The  roads  which  Bonaparte  had  to  pafs, 
were  guarded  by  numerous  detachments  of 
troops,  who  followed  him,  whilfl:  he  was  al- 
ways clolely  furrounded  by  his  own  guards. 
He  had  there  an  opportunity  of  perceiving 
that  he  was  no  longer  the  darling  and  the  firft 
hero  of  the  army.  The  troops  who  Ihortly 
before  exprcifed  on  feveral  occafions  their 
/eal  and  enthufiafm  for  Moreau,  behaved 
v/ith  great  coolnefs,  and  were  quite  filent 
whilft  he  was  near.  He  was  more  than  once 
compelled  to  hear  the  complaints, of  the  army, 
.<?  to  their  being  abfolucely  negleftcd. 


182  liONAPAHTE 

Though  the  price  of  provifions  has  lifen  to 
the  double  and  treble  of  former  times,  the 
common  French  foldicr  has  ftill  no  more  than 
the  old  daily  pay  of  five  French  fous,  and 
a  pound  and  a  half  of  bread  :  the  infantry  and 
cavalry  have  the  fame  fcanty  allowance.  The 
grenadiers,  who  are  picked  from  the  battalion, 
have  only  fix  fous.  Of  this  money,  which  is 
paid  every  fifth  day,  very  little  goes  into  the 
hand  of  the  loldier.  The  corporal,  with  whom 
ten  or  twelve  are  generally  compelled  to  board, 
receives  their  pay,  and,  after  indemnifying  him- 
felf,  divides  the  remainder.  The  foldier  is  ftill 
worfe  olF  at  prefent,  as  all  common  and  public 
labor  on  the  road  or  in  the  fields  is  prohibit- 
ed. If  he  be  brought  up  a  mechanic,  he 
may  pra6life  his  bufinefs  at  home  ;  ftill  he 
muft  have  the  leave  of  his  commander  to 
do  fo. 

It  is  not  the  infufficient  pay  alone  which 
renders  the  foldier  difcontented;  his  being  in- 
diiTerently  cloathed,  and  badly  mounted,  adds 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  183 

to  it.  The  army  had  been  promifed  new  and 
better  uniform  fmce  the  peace.  The  infantry 
were  to  have  been  drelTed  in  white,  inflead  of 
their  prefent  blue  coats;  and  the  feveral  corps 
were  to  be  diftinguifhed  by  facings  of  a  different 
color.      A  few  rcoimcnts  have  received  their 

o 

new  cloaths,  but  none  arc  vet  drelTed  in  white. 
Tlie  old  blue  uniforms  arc,  fincc  the  laft  war, 
grown  very  ragged  ;  and  the  foldier  is  more 
fenfible  of  this  negleft.  as  he  daily  hears  of 
the  incrcafmg  magnificence  at  the  court  of 
the  conful,  his  former  general,  and  often 
fees  thiit  many  of  his  commanders  now  live 
fumptuoufly  on  their  large  eflates  in  the  pro- 
vinces. The  common  foldier  will  always  be 
offended  at  fuch  negleft,  as  he  does  not  un- 
derfland  how  much  is  required  to  clothe  an 
army,  amounting  to  half  a  million  of  men, 
and  to  provide  horfes  for  the  cavalry.  The 
paying  of  the  arrears  to  the  army,  which  had 
been  due  to  fome  regiments  even  for  two  years, 
has  been  cffedcd  with  grc£)t  pains :  though  all 


184  RONAPARTE 

the  army  is  now  paid  up,  but  the  navy  is  ftill 
in  arrears. 

The  foldier  alfo  complains  of  the  wretched 
flatc  of  the  mihtary  hofpitals,  eflablifhed  in 
the  greater  cities  of  France  :  more  than  one 
invaHd,  nay  even  the  dead  and  the  living 
often  lie  together  in  one  bed.  The  fick  fol- 
dier is  reported  to  be  kept  very  indifferently .. 
though  two-thirds  are  dcdu6led  from  his  pay, 
as  long  as  he  flays  at  the  hofpital.  Of  the 
other  feparate  military  hofpitals  for  venereal 
patients,  amounting  to  about  ten  or  twelve, 
ftill  greater  complaint  is  made,  though  their 
pay  ceafes  as  long  as  they  remain   there. 

The  purchafe  of  the  horfes  wanted  for  the 
cavalry  has,  fmcc  the  peace,  been  left  to  the 
care  of  the  commanders  of  the  regiments,  who 
{adly  negleft  this  part  of  their  duty.  The  ium 
allotted  by  government  for  that  purpofe,  which 
has  not  always  been  paid  in  full,  is  by  far  too 
fmall  even  to  purchafe  tolerable  ones.  Many 
regiments,  who  dare  not  accept  of  the  Nor- 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  185 

man,  Limofin,  and  Auvergne  liorfes,  on 
account  of  their  being  too  fmall,  mull  bring 
them  from  Holfatia  at  a  great  expence  ;  and 
it  may  be  faid  with  truth,  that  the  half  of  the 
French  cavalry  is  not  mounted  at  all,  and  the 
other  half  very  ill.*  The  cavalry  is,  there- 
fore, compelled  to  fcrvc  difmounted,  and 
is  not  a  little  offended  at  it. 

The  confular  guard,  which  is  provided  witk 
every  thing,  and  of  the  beft  materials,  ex- 
cites the  jealoufy  and  the  difcontent  of  the 
troops  of  the  line  flill  more.  It  conlifts  of 
8000  men,  and  is  continually  increafing : 
they  are  well  paid,  very  comfortably  cloathed, 
and  well  mounted.  The  privates  have  25  foli 
a  day,  and  the  officers  have  a  proportionate 


*  The  horfcs  of  the  French  tavahy  arc  poorly  kept,  and  have 
no  flrcngth.  A  great  deal  of  hay  and  draw  is  given  them,  but 
Tcry  little  oatF.  The  daily  allowance  amounts  to  ten  pound* 
of  hay,  ten  of  flraw,  and  hardly  five  of  oats.  During  winter 
when  they  are  little  excrcifcJ,  this  allowar.cc  is  KiTened,  parti- 
wilarly  draw. 

9    B 


186  BONAPARTE 

addition.  They  are  equipped  and  mounted 
by  government.  The  confular  guard,  in  the 
eleventh  year  of  the  republic  (1803,)  ^^^' 
lifted  of  two  battalions  of  grenadiers,  and 
two  battalions  of  chaffeurs  on  foot  (4000,) 
of  fix  fquadrons  of  grenadiers,  and  fix  fqua- 
drons  of  chaffeurs,  mounted  (2600.)  All 
thefe  men  are  picked  from  the  troops  of  the 
line,  and  thofe  only  chofen  who  bear  a  good 
chara6ler  as  to  condu6l  and  bravery.  The 
confular  horfe  guards  are  quartered  in  bar- 
racks clofe  by  the  Thuillerics,  Malmaifon,  &;c. 
His  foot  guards  have  their  quarters  in  the 
buildings  of  the  military  fchool,  and  in  other 
parts  of  the  town. 

A  company  of  horfe  artillery,  provided 
with  eight  guns,  is  attached  to  them.  They 
are  alfo  quartered  at  the  military  fchool,  and 
have  every  thing  ready  to  march  at  a  mo- 
ment's notice.  At  the  grand  military  parade 
this  company  muft  be  prelcnt,  and  it  paffes  in 
reviev/  before  the  Firft  Conful,  always  in  full 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  1S7 

trot;    probably  to  ftrike  the  Parifian  popu- 
lace with  greater  awe. 

The  Confal  alfo  keeps  a  corps  of  Mame- 
lukes, amounting  to  400  men,  for  his  private 
fcrvice.  It  is  compofed  of  Greeks,  Copts, 
Turks,  and  Frenchmen,  who  have  lived  fomc 
time  at  the  Levant.  They  are  dreiTed,  armed, 
equipped  and  mounted  in  the  Egyptian  flyle, 
and  are  commanded  by  officer;^  who  have  been 
in  Egypt.  The  privates  of  this  corps  receive 
fifty  fous  daily. 

The  Firll  Conful  has  befides  a  corps  of 
cavalry  always  at  hand,  called  gendarmerie 
d' elite,"  u'hich  amounts  to  800  men  felecled 
from  all  the  brigades  of  the  genfdarmcs  of  the 
interior.  A  troop  of  difmounted  cavalrv, 
containing  600  men,  is  attached  to  it.  The 
privates  of  the  horfe  guards  receive  a  daily 
pay  of  five  French  livrcs  ;  the  privates  in  the 
difmounted  troops  three  livres,  but  they  muft 
provide  their  horfcs,  uniforms,  and  other  ne- 
cellaries  at  their  own   expcnce.      They  are 


18S  BONAPARTE 

quartered  in  barracks  near  the  arfenal,  and 
are  employed  to  execute  the  orders  of  the 
general  police,  called  haute  police. 

The  other  corps  of  genfdarmes  are  difpcrfed 
all  over  France,  and  have  the  fame  fervices  to 
perform,  which  were  formerly  intrufted  to  the 
Marechauffee.  They  are  to  aflift  the  police, 
to  purfue  and  feize  criminal  or  fufpe6led  per- 
fons.  They  are  all  mounted,  and  have  three 
livres  per  day.  The  troops  of  the  line  defpife 
them  as  well  as  the  confular  guards  ;  and 
quarrels  generally  enfue  when  they  meet.  If 
any  revolutionary  trouble  Ihould  take  place, 
they  would  certainly  fi^rht  againft  each  other. 

The  troops  of  the  line  amounted,  at  the 
beginning  of  the  12th  year  of  the  republic 
(1803,)  to  one  hundred  half  brigades  of  re- 
gular infantry  {infantc7'ie  de  bataille,)  each 
confi fling  of  three  battalions,  and  each  of  the 
latter  containing  icoo  men  of  thirty-two  half 
brigades  of  light  infantry,  compofed  of  the 
fame   number ;  of  two  regiments  of  carabi- 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  189 

neers,  and  twenty  of  heavy  horfc,  compofed  of 
four  fquadions,  containing  160  horfcs  each. 
Of  the  latter  heavy  horfe,  eight  regiments 
fhould  wear  cuirafTes,  but  only  two  do  fo.  Of 
twenty  regiments  of  dragoons,  and  twenty- 
three  regiments  of  huIFars,  and  chaflfeur  a. 
chcval ;  each  compofed  of  four  fquadrons, 
containing  200  men.  The  artillery  confifls 
of  eight  regiments  of  infantry,  each  amount- 
ing to  1000  rank  and  file ;  of  eight  regiments 
of  horfe  artillery,  each  amounting  to  600  rank 
and  file;  of  four  battalions  of  fappmrs  ;  as 
many  miners  ;  and  two  of  pioneers ;  amount- 
ing in  the  whole  to  between  five  and  fix  thou- 
fand  men.  The  total  of  the  French  army 
was,  at  that  period,  more  than  half  a  million 
rank  and  file,  bcfidcs  the  corps  of  invalids,  and 
the  feveral  corps  of  veterans,  compofed  of  old 
foldiers  unable  to  do  duty,  and  now  gar- 
rifoned  in  fortrcfies,  forts,  and  towns ;  re- 
ceiving the  fame  pay  as  the  troops  of  the 
line. 


190  BONAPARTE 

The  army  was,  by  no  means,  complete  at 
the  clofe  of  the  lafl  war  ;  and  flrong  and  fevere 
meafures  became  necellary  to  recruit  it.  Thefe 
often    occafioned   refiftance   and    bloodftied. 

The  levies  of  confcripts,  on  a  large  fcale,  be- 
came necclTary,  as  many  young  men,  who  had 
been  forced  into  (he  army,  demanded  their 
difcharge  at  their  return,  which  had  been 
promifed  them  at  the  conclufion  of  peace. 
There  is  an  order '  or  law,  by  which  it  is 
ena6ted,  that  the  eighth  part  of  each  corps 
fhall  annually  be  difchargedin  rotation— viz. 
the  eldefl  in  fervice,  firfl.  Thefe  were  to  be 
replaced  by  confcripts  of  the  ninth  and  tenth 
years.  They  were  young  men  of  all  clafles, 
who  had  attained  their  twentieth  year  in  thefe 
two  years  of  the  republic  (1801,  1802.)  Thofe 
foldiers  whofe  turn  it  came  to  be  difcharged, 
might  have  remained  in  the  regiment,  and 
made  a  compromifc  with  any  other  who  wifhed 
to  leave  it ;  yet  this  has  been  of  late  reftrained, 
nor  has   the   firfl  regulation   been  obferved. 


AND  THE  rPvENCH  PEOPLE.  191 

Indeed,  no  fixed  plan  lor  the  recruiting  of 
the  army  is  yet  eftabhflicd  in  France,  and  pro- 
vifionary  means  only  are  adopted.  A  lift  is 
made  out  of  all  the  young  men,  and  another 
of  the  vacancies  in  the  res'iments.     The  latter 

o 

have  di[lri£ls  afTigned  them,  where  they  are  to 
receive  their  firft  complement. 

They  fent  there  for  this  purpol^j  com- 
miffioncd  and  non-commilTioned  officers. 
The  confcripts  mufl  aiTemblc  at  the  chief 
town  of  the  diftrift.  The  officers  of  the 
cavalry  liave  the  rcfulal ;  and  the  remainder 
iS  Icfi;  for  the  iniantiy.  As  all  the  confcripts 
have  not  been  wanted  to  fill  up  the  vacancies 
in  the  army,  it  has  been  the  cuftom  of  the 
young  men  to  draw  lots  twice  :  once  for  the 
re^Tular.  and  tlie  lecond  tim^c  for  the  army  of 
referve.  This  latter  docs  not  exift  in  reality  : 
but  the  confcripts  on  whom  the  lot  falls  to  enter 
tliis  imaginary  army,  are,  from  that  moment, 
at  the  difpofal  of  government,  and  may  be 
afVcmblcd  in  time  of  need,     They  arc  drilled 


19«  BONAPARTE 

occafionally.     It  has   not  been  fettled  how 
long   a   foldier  ought  to  have  ferved,  to    be 

intitled  to  his  difchargc. 

In  the  levies  of  the  confcripts  many  abufes 
take  place.  A  number  of  young  men  gene- 
rally take  to  flight,  or  conceal  themfelves :  as 
the  recruiting  officers  mufl  have  their  comple- 
ment, thefe  vacancies  are  inftantly  filled  up  by 
others;  yet  the  regiments,  after  they  have  their 
full  number,  flill  purfue  the  deferters  with  the 
greatefl  rigor,  and  lay  hold  of  them  wher- 
ever they  find  them  ;  and  thefe  poor  men  are 
generally  taken  to  the  regiment,  when  they 
are  compelled  to  ferve,  inftcad  of  thofe  fol- 
diers  who  can  pay  fomething  for  their  dif- 
charge.  This  trade  is  mofl;ly  carried  on  by 
the  commander  of  the  regiment  alone. 

The  national,  which  have  degenerated 
into  mere  town  guards,  daily  dwindle  in 
number,  and  Bonaparte  is  not  difpleafed  at 
it.  He  has  left  that  decree  unexecuted,  by 
which  the  confuls  in  the  ninth  year  of  the  re- 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  19J 

public,  ordered  the  raising  of  two  regiments  of 
national  guards  of  cavalry,  and  two  of  infan- 
try, to  do  garrison  duty  at  Paris.     He  has  left 
this  service   to  the  veterans,  and  some  half 
brigades,  and  to  a  regiment  of  dragoons,  who 
might  be  better  depended  upon.     The  consu- 
hir   guards  do  .duty  only  at  the  palaces  of  tlie 
First  Consul,  and  in  their  barracks.     lie  has, 
by  a  late  decree,  entirely  abolished  the  national 
guards  at  Paris ;  and  ordered  the  establishment 
of  a  municipal  guard,  amounting  to  2 150infan- 
trv,  and  to  ISOcavalrv.     It  is  to  consist  only  of 
soldiers  who  have  served  in  the  regulars ;  and  is 
to  be  looked  upon  as  a  sort  of  rc^tiremcntfor 
the  troops  of  the  line,  as  they  are  reported  to 
be  better  paid  than  tlic  army.     No  officer, or 
private,  is  to  be  accepted,  unless  he  ha\emade. 
at   least,  five  cain[)aigns;  and  their  age  is  to 
be  between  tliirty  and  forty-five.     The  First 
Consul    aj)points  all    the    conmiissioned  and 
noii-comnfissioned  ollicers  of  t!)is   corps.     It 
is  under  the    command    of   the  "'cnerals   of 

O 

the    fu"st    division,  and  of  the  coinmaudaat 


194  BONAPARTE 

at  Paris.     Every  tbiiig  which  ccnccnis  their 

duty  and  di'css,  is  minutely  prescribed. 

The  stations  assigned  to  the  real  national 

o 

guards  near  the  turnpikes  and  gates  at  Paris, 
kc.  are  now  filled  up  by  substitutes,  or  rcm- 
placants,  who  do  the  duty  instead  of  the  citi- 
zens, and  consist  of  a  miserable  assemblage 
of  vaccabonds  and  beujrars,  A\ithout  uniform 
or  discipline.  The  wretchedness  of  these  sub- 
stitutes was  one  day  proved,  when  a  mechanic 
shot  i)is  wife  and  himself  in  a  wooden  stall,  or 
shop,  which  he  had  shut  after  him.  Of  five  of 
tiiese  fellows,  who  had  been  called  hrst,  no  one 
had  the  courage  to  open  the  door  ;  and  as  nei- 
tlier  of  them  iiaci  any  powder  or  ball  with  them, 
they  would  not  enter  without,  as  the  report  of 
a  gun  had  been  heard  inside. 

This  shabby,  laisoldier-like,  motley  grouj), 
is  a  Scilire  on  the  stately  national  guards,  at  the 
beginning  of  the  revolution  ;  who,  in  appear- 
ance and  steadiness,  e\en  surpassed  !hc  present 
consular  guards;  who  with  the  greatest  bravery 
and  discipline,  (ought  against  tiio  bc^t  French 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  195 

troops  of  the  line,  near  Naiic}^,  Lyons,  and 
other  pkiccs ;  and  who  knew  liow  to  restore 
and  maintain  order,  till  they  were  sent,  during 
tlie  dreadtul  epochs  of  the  last  war,  to  the  fron- 
tiers, and  mostly  to  La  ^'endce,  where  they 
were  sacrificed  in  the  most  ^\'anton  manner. 
Ihe  national  guards  of  old,  who  formed  a  true 
and  well-disciplined  militia  of  the  country,  are 
now  all  disarmed  by  a  new  game  law,  which 
prohibits  the  possession  of  a  single  gun,  even 
to  proprietors  of  estates,  if  they  have  no 
special  license  from  the  prefect  of  the  de- 
partment. 

AVliat  would  Mirabeau  say  of  this  dcgra:]a- 
tion  and  anniiiilation  of  the  national  iruards, 
whom  lie  described  in  the  followins^  words? "  A7 
guc  sont  ccs  troupes,  siiioii  Ics  troupes  dc  la  li- 
berie f  Pourquoi  les  avon  nous  hislituees, 
siellcs  lie  sou  t  pas  ('lernelleiuentdcstin'tes  d  co?i- 
server  ce  qu   elles  out  conquisy^^ 


\\'h:\t  arc  Uiosc  troops   but  the  soldiers  of  liberty  ? 


196  BONAPARTE 

The  same  fate  which  befel  tlic  former  na- 
tional   guards,    this  fundamental  basis  of  a 
free  government,  has  been  shared  by  tiie  ju- 
ries, who  certainly  never  were  what  they  are 
in  England.     They  are  trampled  upon  from 
all  (quarters.     The  calling  togetlier  of  a  jury 
is  grown  an  unpopular  measure  :  it  is,  in  fact, 
not  calling  upon  citizens  and  householders,  as 
in  England  and  America.     The  justice  of  the 
peace,  who  is  the  only  officer  chosen  by  the 
people,  makes  out  tlie  lists.     These  are  given 
to  the  prefects  and  vice-prefects,  intirely  de- 
pendent on  government,  who  ma}'  alter  them 
at  pleasure.     The  judges  in  the  public  courts, 
also  take  great  care  to  prevent  the  juries  from 
aking  questions,  or  inquiring  into  the  nature 
of  the  crime  a  prisoner  is  accused  of.     The 
French    citizen  has,  besides,  nothing  of  tliat 
zeal  for  im]:iartial  justice,  which  is  the  off- 
spring (;f  a  true  public  spirit,  q-nd  rational  love 


^^'hy  were  they  insliUiled,  if  they  are  not  continually 
destined  to  i)rei;er\e  wliat  tlity  Imve  conquered  ? 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  197 

of  liberty.  They  are  indifferent  about  it,  and 
the  slavish  courtiers  and  journalists,  avail 
themselves  of  this  supineness,  to  decry  juries 
as  utterly  useless,  troublesome  to  the  citizens, 
and  detrimental  to  the  administration  of  jus- 
tice.— Juries,  are  in  fact,  approaching  their 

intire  abolition. 

They  have  alreavly  been  suspended  for  the 
eleventh  and  twelfth  year,  in  the  departments 
of  cVfU's  du  Kord,  Dii  Morbihan,  Dc   Van- 
flusc,  Dcs  boiiclics  du  Tthonc,  du   Var,  Des 
Alpcs  viarilimes,  Du  lAimone^  Du  So,     De  la 
Doire,  Dc  la  Scsia,  Dc  la  Zura,  Dc  Marengo 
ct  du  Tanaro.    All  these  departments  are  now 
subjected  to  the  jurisdiction  of  the  hated  .spe- 
cial tribunal.     Thus  the  few  really  beneficent 
institutions  whicli  the  revolution  broudit  forth, 
itre  gradually  destroyed,  and  this  light-headed 
careless  people,  -are  insensible  of  the  great 
change. 

Even    in  such  departments,  where  juries 
.s!i!I  exist,  their  powers  are   greatly  limited. 


198  BONAPARTE 

That  branch  of  the  police,  known  under  the 
name  of  police  correctionale,  and  whicli  con- 
sists of  a  judge  and  several  justices  of  peace, 
or  assessors,  has  taken  from  the  juries  a  num- 
ber of  trifling  cases,  as  exclusively  appertain- 
ing to  their  jurisdiction.  All  cases  of  forgery, 
murder,  manslaughter,  setting  houses  on  fire, 
&c.  are  assigned  over  to  the  courts  of  the 
special  tribunals,  whose  arbitrary  proceedings 
have  already  been  noticed. 

Thus,  by  annihilating  the  militia,  by  under- 
mining and  aboli,shing  thejuries,  by  destroying 
all  liberty  of  the  press,  Bonaparte  has  broken 
down  the  bulwarks  of  a  free  constitution ; 
and,  instead  of  a  well-regulated  monarchical 
government,  founded  on  law,  he  has  jumbled 
together  a  set  of  regulations,  the  result  of  his 
arbitrary  will,  which  may  be  altered  every 
day  at  pleasure,  which  pave  the  way  to  the 
most  scandalous  bribery  throughout  all  public 
offices  ;  and  tliiis  deprives  every  body  of  the 
legal  means  of  resisting  injustice. 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  199 

Violent  measures  alone  will  stem  the  tor- 
rent of  these  glaring  oppressions,  which  lar 
exceed  cvvA'y  thing,  that  the  most  depraved 
mouaix'hical  government  ever  did  :  yet  Bona- 
parte, tliiis  overwhelming  a  nation  already  the 
unhappy  ^  ictim  of  the  horrors  of  revolution 
and  aiiaic  hy,  is  preparing  new  commotions  ; 
and  lie  certainly  has  great  reason  to  fear  for 
ills  safetv,  and  rules  with  a  rod  of  iron. 

In  spite  oi"  all  his  domestic  measures,  he 
will  still  have  a  ver}^  precarious  existence,  if 
he  continue,  as  he  has  hitherto  done,  to  irritate 
the  people  by  his  boundless  partiality  for  his 
relations  and  favorites,  which  he  so  impru- 
dently and  inconsideratelj'manifests.  Few  will 
perhaps  blame  the  man  in  power,  w  hen  he  en- 
dea\ours  to  benefit  his  family,  within  the 
limits  of  prudtnce  and  moderation  ;  but  to 
grant  a  numerous  family,  who  are  absolute 
strangers  to  tiic  country,  whatever  the  most 
exlra\ agunt  \anity,  and  the  most  greedy  ap- 
petite may  crave   to  give  ;  not  from  his  own 


200  BONAPARTE 

limited  income,  but  from  the  public  purse, 
thus  forfeiting  all  claim  to  personal  sacrifice 
and  generosity ;  to  bestow  all  the  most  lucra- 
tive places  in  administration  on  swarms  of  bro- 
thers, brothers-in-law,  uncles,  cousins,  <Scc.  &c. 
without  any  regard  to  talents  or  character,  to 
load  them  with  several  offices  at  the  same 
time  ;  to  dub  them  presidents  in  all  public 
assemblies ;  to  trust  them  with  the  manage- 
ment of  every  thing,  by  ^vhich  a  great  and 
immense  profit  may  exclusively  be  reaped  : — 
All  this  far  exceeds  every  papal,  princely,  and 
ministerial  stretch  of  power,  hitherto  known  in 
the  world.  E\ery  thing  will  in  time  be  forced  to 
yield  to  this  partiality  of  the  consul,  and  the  old 
Roman  imperial  despotism  will  sink  under  the 
arrogance  and  tyi'anny  of  the  new  ruler. 

The  several  meml)ersof  the  familvshcw  as 
little  re.slraiiit  and  modesty  inthe  public  enjoy- 
ment of  ail  these  ad\'antagcs,  as  he  exhibits  in 
bestowing  thcni, 

Lucien  J3unaparte,  who  at  fu'st  mus  minister 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.         201 
of  the  interior,  and  afterwards  sent  as  ambas- 
sador to  Spain,  has  acquired  a  fortune  of  thirty 
millions    of   livres.      He    exerts    his    influ- 
ence over    his  brother    who  is  so    mightily 
obliged  to  him,  to  obtain  the  most  profitable 
commissions  and  contracts,  and  thus  to   in- 
crease his  riches.     He    lives  at  his  splendid 
country  seat    (Plessis),  and    at   his  princely 
hotel  at  Paris,  in  a  style  never  equalled  by  the 
most  prodigal  and  extravagant  prince,  except 
the  late  regent  in  France,  and  his  associates, 
who  were  known  at  that  luxurious  period  by 
the  nickname  of  roues.  There  is  some  similar!* 
ty  of  character  between  Lucien  and  thisfamous 
regent,  who  seized  the  government  after  the 
decease  of  Louis  XIV.     Lucien  aims  at  mag- 
nificence :  lie  is  fond  of  shew,  and  indulges  in 
studied  sumptuousness.     He  gives  way  to  the 
most  voluptuous  excesses.      Like  the  regent, 
lie  is  hospitable,  generous,   a  lover  and  pro- 
tector  of  the   arts :  like   him,    gains   many 
friends  by  this  single  quality.     He,  of  all  his 
p 


202  BONAPARTE 

famUy,  would  indeed  be  the  very  man  for  the 

French,  at  least  for  the  Parisians. 

Joseph  Bonaparte,  deep  and  reserved,  like  a 
true  Italian,  keeps  to  the  society  of  his  family, 
but  lives  in  great  splendor  at  his  country  seat, 
at  Montfontaine,  and  at  his  hotel  in  Paris. 
The  liberality  ofhis  brother,  at  the  expence  of 
the  public ;  his  hatred  against  all  men  who  had 
grown  rich  during  the  revolution,  have  been 
made  use  of  by  Joseph  at  the  conclusion  of 
peace,  to  make  a  fortune  by  extorting  pre- 
sents, &c.  from  strangers.  The  mission  to 
England,  which  required  great  prudence,  abi- 
lity, and  application,  without  promissing  much 
gain,  was  not  co vetted  by  any  of  the  family ; 
they  prudently  ceded  it  to  an  honest  German, 
a  gay,  thoughtless  youth. 

Louis  Bonaparte,  without  any  anxiety  to 
make  a  fortune,  lives  nevertlieless  in  the 
splendid  hotel,  in  which  his  brother  resided 
before  his  removal  to  the  Thuilleries.  Many 
things  of  value,  whicli  cannot  be  tru-'ited  to  his 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  203 
own  hands,  are  given  to  his  wife,  the  beloved 
step-daughter  of  Bonaparte,  and  carefully  se- 
cured to  her  for  the  future.  He  may  one  day, 
perhaps,  owe  to  her  the  dukedom  of  Parma. 
Tlie  sisters  of  Bonaparte  are  all,  without 
exception,  possessed  of  great  fortunes.  The 
richest  of  them,  is  the  widow  of  General  Le- 
clerc,  to  whom  the  very  important  expedition 
to  St.  Dominngo  was  intrusted,  though  per- 
haps they  could  not  have  chosen  in  all  France  a 
man  more  unfit  for  such  a  command.  With- 
out making  himself  acquainted  with  the  state 
of  affairs  at  St.  Domingo,  and  the  character 
and  influence  of  the  principal  negro  leaders — 
without  any  capacity  to  avail  himself  of  cir- 
cumstances, and  contradictory  views  of  the 
black  chiefs,  his  natural  bnitality  caused  them 
to  join  in  their  resistance  against  France  ;  and 
he  has,  perhaps,  lost  for  ever  this  most  valuable 
colony.  He  consulted  more  his  own  interest 
than  the  public  good.  During  his  short  stay- 
in  that  island,  he  remitted  immense  sums  to 


204  BONAPARTE 

France,  which  were  laid  out  in  the  purchase 
of  very  considerable  estates.  His  widow  is 
looked  upon  as  the  richest  oft  he  whole  family. 
Since  her  return  she  has  bought  a  splendid 
hotel  at  Paris,  which  she  has  fitted  up  in  a 
princely  style  :  but  she  will  porbably  settle  in 
Italy,  where  she  is  to  marry  a  Prince  Borg- 
hesse. 

General  Murat,  husband  to  Bonaparte's  se- 
cond sister  has  accumulated  a  fortune  in  Italy, 
which  he  daily  increases  by  the  savings  of  his 
revenues,  and  fees  as  governor  of  Milan.  Ma- 
dame Murat  is  also  possessed  of  a  splendid 
hotel  at  Paris,  where  she  occasionally  resides. 
Madam  Bacciochi,  whose  husband,  aCorsican, 
is  placed  in  the  general  staff  of  Bonaparte,  has 
also  a  magnificent  hotel  of  her  own,  the  gift  of 
the  First  Consul,  for  which  the  latter  ha^  paid 
the  sum  of  half  a  million  of  livres,  and  which 
he  ordered  to  be  fitted  up  in  the  most  superb 
manner.  A  similar  present  has  been  made  to 
the  motiier,  who  eagerly  seizes  on  every  occa- 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  205 
sion  to  make  money,  and  is  fond  of  presents, 
which  are  plentifully  bestowed  upon  her  by 
her  son  and  sons-in-law.  General  Murat 
made  her  lately  a  present  of  a  set  of  diamonds, 
estimated  at  50,000  livres ;  and  a  service  of 
china  of  ecjual  value. 

She  has  obtained  for  her  l^rother  Fere  (now 
called  Fesch),  the  dignity  of  cardinal ;  and  this 
cardinal,  uncle  to  Bonaparte,  has  made  such 
good  use  of  his  time  in  Itah%  that  he  is  now 
become  immensely  rich.  He  has  also  receiv- 
er! the  very  profitable  appointment  of  ambas- 
sador to  Rome. 

Napoleon  Bonaparte  was  reported  after  his 
first  return  from  Italy,  to  be  possessed  of 
twenty  millions  of  livres,  and  on  his  return 
from  Egypt  double  that  sum.  Since  the  intro- 
duction of  the  new  financial  svstem,  which 
allows  him  six  millions  annually,  instead  of 
the  500,000  livres,  formerly  a.^>igned  to  him 
as  consul :  he  novv  disposes  of  the  public  purse. 


206  BONAPARTE 

without  any  control ;  yet  this  was  in   some 
degree  the  case  in  former  times. 

Bonaparte  shews  the  same  prediliction  to  all 
persons  who  have  serv  ed  under  him  in  Italy, 
and  neglects  the  mcst  deserving  men,  who 
fought  the  glorious  battles  in  Germany,  under 
Moreau,  whois  now  soshamefully  neglected. 
His  partiality  tov/ards  those,  who  were  with 
him  in  Egypt,  is  still  greater.  Not  satisfied 
with  making  Duroc,  who  is  quite  a  young 
man,  the  governor  general  of  all  his  palaces 
(the  pleasing  manners  of  the  one,  and  the  per- 
sonal attachment  of  the  other,  might  excuse 
this  choice)  :  he  has  also  made  him  a  minis- 
ter of  the  cabinet ;  and  through  his  hands 
every  thing  concerning  the  army  must  pass. 
His  will  and  opinion  are  of  such  weight,  that 
the  w  ar  minister  never  ventures  to  propose 
any  inca.surc,  without  having  previously  con- 
suUc <1  Dnioc,  fully  persuaded  that  neither  the 
assent  vi^  the  First  Consul,  nor  even  an  an- 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  207 
swer  could  be  obtained  without  this  favorite'.s 
approbation. 

The  war  minister  Berthier,  excepting 
his  pleasing  manners,  has  nothing  that 
could  entitle  him  to  such  an  office  but 
his  having  been  with  Bonaparte  in  Egypt : 
He  is  so  little  fit  for  it,  that  it  was 
found  necessary  immediately  to  appoint 
M.  Dejean  as  an  assistant.  This  vice-minis- 
ter conducts  all  the  important  affairs  of  the  war 
department,  under  the  title  of  "  directeur 
viinistre  dc  C administration  de  la  guerre^'* 
whilst  Berthier  simj)ly  enjoys  the  honors  of 
tlie  cliargc,  and  draws  an  immense  income 
from  it. 

Even  Menou,  was  appointed  general  ad- 
ministrator of  Piedmont,  when  every  body 
believed,  that  Bonaparte  would  not  only  dis- 
countenance him,  b  ut  even  treat  him  with  the 
greatest  severit}-. 

Denon,  a  pleasant  writer,  and  a  facetious 
reporter  of  all  the  wondrous  deeds  in  Egypt, 


208  BONAPARTE 

was  created  by  him  director  general  of  all  the 
literary  institutes  and  academies  of  arts   in 
France.     The  most  celebrated  literati,  the 
most    renowned   artists  were   set   aside,  all 
former  presidents  of  the  societies  of  arts,  were 
abolished,   and  Denon  appointed  sole  dicta- 
tor over  them ;  whoever  knows  the  extent  and 
importance    of  the  French  museums,   of  the 
cabinets  of  antiquities  and  medals,  of  the  mint 
itself,   as  forming  a  branch    of  it,  must    be 
equally  astonished  at  the  courage  of  this  De- 
non, who    accepted  such  a  place  in  the  face 
of  Visconts  and  other  celebrated  men,  as  he 
himself  must  be  surprised  at  the  blind  partiality 
and   protection   of  the   donor.     The    grand 
museum  at  the  Louvre,  the  museum  of  the 
French  monuments    { tmtsce  dcs  monuments 
Francis),  the  museum  of  the  French  school 
at  Versailles  (Ic  musce  de  iernlc   Franc aisc 
ci  Versailles),  all  the  galleries  of  pictur.',-s  in  the 
palaces  of  government,  the  mint  of  nicdals,  the 
chalcographic  institutions  of  the  Mosaic,  and 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  209 

of  the  cabinets  of  engravings,  the  purchase 
and  the  removing  of  all  monuments  of  art 
and  otlicr  things  of  less  importance,  are  placed 
imder  the  sole  and  immediate  direction  and 
.superintendance  of  this  new  governor  general. 

Fran,  a  young  surgeon,  was  nominated  by 
Ron:v[)arte  to  the  most  imj)ortant  dignity  in 
his  profession,  and  made  "  C/iirui^gicn  en  chcj 
dc  r hotel  dc.s  invalided,''  an  appointment  which 
had  been  promised  to  the  surgeon  general  of 
^loreau's  army,  and  on  wliich  condition  alone 
he  followed  the  latter  in  liis  last  campaign. 
Bona[)arte  said  of  this  Fran — He  may  yet  learn 
what  is  necessary,  he  is  young. 

Marcel,  who  set  up  a  small  printing  office 
in  Egypt,  tliough  he  never  had  before  the 
management  of  one,  of  any  consequence, 
was  promoted  to  the  place  of  a  director  ge- 
neral of  the  printing  offices  of  tlie  republic 
(direcieur  de  /'  impi'imerie  de  la  rtpublique), 
which  yields  an  income  of  60,000  li\res. 
Though  all  the  most  renowned  printers  and 

Q 


210  BONAPARTE 

proprietors  of  similar  institutions  had  offered 
themselves,  300  in  mmiber;  though  all  the 
votes  of  the  counsellors  of  state,  and  of  the 
two  other  consuls,  were  unanimously  in  fa- 
vor of  Pierre.  Bonaparte  said  when  they 
proposed  the  latter,  *'  if  Marcel  had  not  offer- 
ed himself,  I  should  have  given  the  place  to 
Pierre,"  and  wrote  Alarcel's  name  on  the  war- 
rant, to  the  astonishment  of  every  one  present, 
The  partiality  and  confidence  to  men,  who 
willingly  trusted  themselves  to  a  hazardous 
enterprise,  under  the  guidance  of  a  successful 
soldier,  who,  blindly  confiding  in  his  lucky 
star,  followed  him  to  distant  regions,  is  very 
natural  to  one,  who  has  great  reason  to  lay 
hold  of  all  means  to  secure  himself  in  his 
place  i  it  is  even  prudent  to  attach  such  men 
still  more :  but  if  this  cannot  be  elTected, 
without  greatly  offending  others,  is  it  also 
prudent  to  render  them  bitter  enemies,  and 
thus  to  create  throughout  all  classes  and  de- 
partments a  general   discontent,  which  will 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.         211 

sooner  or  later  break  out  with  the  greatest 
violence,  the  longer  it  is  forcibly  suppressed  ? 

If  we  reflect  on  these  circumstances,  w^c 
must  either  doubt  Bonaparte's  prudence  and 
moderation,  or  conchide  that  all  penetration, 
all  talent,  and  superiority,  will  be  of  little  avail 
to  the  mail  who  has  raised  himself  above  all, 
and  now  stands  alone,  or  is  surrounded  by 
iiungry  and  malicious  slaves.  Still,  every 
ruler,  wlio  has  not  that  command  over  himself 
"which  he  ought  to  ha\  e,  is  in  a  much  more 
dangerous  situation  than  merely  standing  by 
himself  as  he  is  encircled  by  the  slaves  of 
rapine  and  malice,  ready  to  instil  into  his 
mind  sentiments  even  worse  than  his  own. 
The  man  of  noble  mind  disdains  to  approach 
a  being  so  infmitcly  inferior  to  himself  Hy- 
pocrisy, and  cunning  submission,  are  his 
principal  attendants ;  but  these  with  a  word 
may  be  laid  in  silence  at  his  feet.  He  will  no 
longer  see  or  hear,  but  with  their  ears  and 
eyes,  trusting  to  all  their  wickedness  may  sug- 


212  BONAPARTE 

gcst ;  at  the  same  time  proudly  thinking  it 
the  result  of  his  own  wisdom  and  activity  : 
that  it  is  his  penetrating  eye  that  has  foreseen 
every  thing.  He  believes  himself  superior  to 
all  those  by  whom  he  is  surrounded,  v,  hen  he 
is  only  a  mere  machine  m  the  hands  of  these 
miscreants.  ^ 

It  has  been  asserted  in  private  societies,  and 
in  public  journals,  that  this  is  the  cliaracter 
of  Bonaparte;  and  the  measures  which  are 
always  taken  before  he  appears  in  public, 
render  this  very  probable.  If  he  is  to  visit 
an  exhibition  of  any  kind,  every  one  who  is 
not  absolutely  wanted  there  is  previously  sent 
away.  The  favorites  of  Bonaparte,  and  the 
minister  to  whose  department  the  object  in 
cjuestion  may  belong,  and  who  have  always 
seen  it  before,  to  give  their  opinion  of  it  to 
the  consul,  who  have  perhaps  instructed  the 
ambitious  or  interested  proprietor  what  he  is 
to  say,  in  order  to  attain  his  end  :  they  al^ 
\A  avs  accompany  Bonaparte,  and  prevent  any 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  21J 

tiling  disar;r(H?able  reaching  his  ear.  Besides, 
if  we  exce}>t  military  objects,  he  is  no  compe- 
tent jutiLfe  oi'anv  thins:. 

If  tnis  has  been  the  case  in  the  capital  for 
the  two  last  years,  liow  much  more  must  it  be 
ill  the  provinces — ignorant  as  he  is  of  local 
ciicumsianccs,  of  the  persons  appointed  there, 
and  the  iniiabitants,  none  of  whom  are  ever 
admitted  into  his  presence. 

The  greatest  precaution  for  his  security 
is  visible  on  these  excursions.  He  never 
takes  that  road  whicli  has  been  previous- 
ly announced.  His  guards  are  always  sent 
in  several  directions  to  wait  for  him,  but  are 
never  certain  which  way  he  is  to  come.  He 
never  stavs  at  a  place  so  lone:  'is  was  at  first 
expected.  He  always  sets  out  suddenly  and 
un})ercei\  ed,  and  generally  arrives  imobserved 
in  the  night,  at  St.  Cloud,  or  Alalmaison.  A 
salute  from  the  guns  announce  on  the  next 
niorning-  his  rctui'n  :  messengers  and  cou- 
riers are  riding  in  all  directions,  to  inform  the 


214  BONAPARTE 

foreign  ^\.mbvas.sac}ors  and  the  constituted  nu- 
thoritics,  that  the  great  inasler  is  ready  to 
accept  at  a  certain  hour  their  congratulations 
on  his  arrival. 

If  Bonaparte  think  to  strike  the  French 
with  greater  awe,  by  these  manifold  prepara- 
tions, and  outward  shew  of  greatness  and  mag- 
nificence ;  and  thus,  to  make  up  what  is  de- 
nied him  from  the  people,  in  attachment  and 
love  ;  if  he  hope  to  make  them  forget  the 
stranger  who  was  artful  enough  prudently  to 
avail  himself  of  the  weakness  and  folly  of  the 
nation,  he  greatlj-  errs.  He  only  throws  a 
greater  light  on  his  usurpation,  increases  jea- 
lousy, exasperates  the  disalTected,  and  pro- 
vokes the  nalional  pride  to  fury  and  revenge, 
which  will  l)e  the  more  destructive  as  it  is  in 
the  character  of  that  nation  to  bear  every 
thing  in  humble  silence,  and  carefully  to  con- 
ceal tlicir  rage  and  thirst  for  revenge,  tiil  tiiey 
can  seize  a  favorable  opportunity  to  shake  oif 
the  galling  yoke.       Bold  enterprises,  splendid 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  215 

and  uncommon  successes,  triimipbs  vvhicli  give 
a  Justre  to  tluit  vain  and  ambitious  nation — 
tliese,  while  they  exalt  the  proud  ruler,  are 
the  ()i)I\-  means  hy  which  th<,'  usurped  autho- 
rity can  ever  be  preserved. 

U'wLi  closely  examine  Bonaparte's  conduct 
towards  the  English  ambassador,  Lord  Wiiit- 
worili,  whom  he  Ibu nd  at  Paris,  on  his  return 
i'joni  the  sea  coast,  we  shall  have  occasion  to 
remark  tiiat  the  chierobject  of  his  absence  was 
nothing  else  than  to  fortify  the  northern  and 
western  coasts  of  France^  and  that  all  the  new- 
regulations  were  directed  to  the  pre-concerted 
project  of  an  invasion.  It  is  more  than  pro- 
bable, that  he  thought  this  would  soon  open 
to  him  a  new  career  of  glory  ;  and  thus  keep 
the  people  in  humour  and  properly  employed. 
He  was  certainly  not  earnest  in  his  desire  of  a 
lasting  peace.  lie  received  and  treated  the 
English  ambassador,  after  having  delayed  his 
fu'st  audience  for  three  weeks,  with  the  most 
striking  coolness-.     At  the  public  audicacci 


216  BONAPARTE 

and  in  the  circles  of  Mad.  Bonaparte,  he  often 
made  to  him  the  rudest  observations.  Per- 
haps, the  substance  of  his  addresses  might 
not  have  given  so  much  offence  as  the  haughty 
and  commanding  tone  in  which  lie  spoke  ;  it 
was  however  highlj^  improper.  His  favorite 
term,  "  Je  le  veux,"  (I  will  it)  which  he 
generally  uses  with  the  other  consuls,  and  with 
his  ministers,  w^ere  one  day  addressed  quite 
aloud  to  the  ambassador  of  a  power  who  had 
formerly  spoken  in  this  manner  itself. 

As  Bonaparte  is  supposed  not  to  be  abso- 
lutely ignorant  oi'  the  English  character,  or 
forgetful  of  himseltj  it  must  be  inferred  ironi 
this  conduct  that  his  mind  was  already  bent 
on  great  enterprises  against  that  countr}*,  e\  en 
during  peace,  and  that  his  pride  alone  made 
himfortrct  the  necessarv  caution  in  concealing 
his  intentions.  lie  certainly  did  not  wisli  so 
soon  to  come  to  a  rupture  with  England  ;  this 
has  been  clearly  seen  by  his  endeavors,  at  least 
for   a  tune,  towards  an  amicable  understand- 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  217 

ing  :  but  the  patience  of"  the  English  was  now 
\\ornout,  andtliey  declared  themselves  sooner 
than  he  expected.  He  thought  England,  per- 
haps, far  more  distracted  by  factions,  and  the 
danger  in  Ireland  far  greater  than  it  now  really 
a})pcars.  lie  may  have  believed  the  proud 
islanders  sufficiently  humbled  by  the  disadvan- 
t[igeous  and  di>honorable  teims  of  the  treaty, 
whieli  he  had  compelled  them  to  accede  to, 
and  favored  as  he  Ijad  been  by  so  many  unex- 
pected circumstances,  he  imagined  that  he 
might  shew  to  their  ambassador  and  to  them, 
his  contem])t  and  hatred.  lie  thought  that 
he  had  reduced  them  to  the  necessity  of  sub- 
mitting in  silence,  whilst  he  shewed  the  great- 
est acti\ity  to  restore  the  French  navy,  to  for- 
tify the  coasts,  and  to  prepare  a  flotilla  which 
might  supply  the  \\  ant  of  large  ships.  lie 
supposed  them  una}>le  to  resist,  whilst  he,  by 
opening  an  intercourse  with  the  Netherlands, 
should  secure  to  himself  and  to  France,  a  great 
re\eiH!e.  and  the  anniliiJatiou  of  trade  to  Eng- 
land. 


218  BONAPARTE 

But  these  humbled  islanders,  to  whom  no- 
thing perhaps  is  so  sacred,  which  they  would 
not  willingly  sacrifice  for  their  country,  their 
national  security,  for  their  prosperity  and  for 
their  honor,  resumed  their  courage,  and  said, 
"A  war  with  this  haughty  Corsican  is  una- 
voidable ;  we  must  indemnify  ourselves  for 
the  disadvantageous  peace  which  we  have  con- 
cluded :  and  for  fear  of  the  worst,  we  had  bet- 
ter decide  on  it  now,  than  ten  years  hence, 
when  perhaps  the  enemy  may  have  accom- 
plished all  his  hostile  preparations,  so  openly 
carried  on  :  better  now,  than  when  the  nation 
is  betrayed  into  false  security,  and  dangerous 
slumber,  by  deceitful  promises,  and  treacher- 
ous allurements,  We  are  still  possessed  of 
tliat  rock,  on  whicli  he  in  future  may  rest,  with 
his  face  towards  Asia,  and  Africa,  musing  on 
his  grand  prqjv^cts  against  us,  and  all  Europe. 
Let  tlic  proud  boaster  try,  whether  treachery 
and  violence,  will  novy  meet  with  tlieir  wonted 
-access. " 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  219 

The  antigallicuii  orators  in  the  British  par- 
liament, and  the  public  papers  in  Englanr], 
continued  to  wound  the  pride  and  the  vanity 
♦  ^f'ilie  hostile  conqueror.  lie  shewed  himself 
by  liir  too  mucli  hurt  at  their  philippics.  He 
demanded  the  prosecution  and  punishment  of 
such  boi;hiess.  lie  tliought,  perhaps,  the 
Ivnglish  government  should  prohibit  the  mem- 
bers of  parliament  t>om  uttering  such  lan- 
guage against  him.  The  French  official  papers 
were  filled  with  the  coarsest  and  most  malici- 
ous  attacks  on  the  English    nation   and  its 

o 

government,  though  the  British  ambassador 
was  present.  The  other  French  papers  and 
journals  re-echoed  these  invectives,  and  others 
made  bitter  and  malicious  additions  of  their 
own.  Never  did  there  exist  between  two 
great  nations,  then  at  peace,  such  an  unbe- 
coming rancour. 

An  English  newspaper,  established  by  go- 
vernment, under  the  title  of,  "  The  Argus," 
publJshedby  ajew,  who  had  been  driven  away 


220  BONAPARTE 

from  England,  was  filled  with  the  greatest 
scurrillity,  and  the  most  infamous  aspersions 
on  the  En[!:lish  people  and  government ;  it  was 
daily  (hstrihuted  among  the  English,  who 
came  in  crowds  to  visit  Paris.  All  the  French 
paperscorrectly  translated  these  scandalous  ar- 
ticles, and  spread  them  all  over  the  country. 
No  English  newspaper  was  publicly  allowed, 
hut  one  called  the  Weekly  Messenger;  which 
was  evidently  in  the  pay  of  the  French  go- 
vernment, and  always  in  contradiction  with 
the  spirit  of  other  English  papers.  The  French 
translated  from  this  latter  such  paragraplis 
only  as  contained  the  intelligence  of  dreadful 
murders,  robberies,  adulteries,  bestial  fights, 
boxing  matches,  and  other  traits  and  trans- 
actions not  very  honorable  to  tiie  English 
character. 

The  Parisian  papers,  sometimes  gave  them- 
selves an  air  of  deep  concern  and  regret  in  feel- 
ing it  to  be  their  duty  to  report  to  their  French 
readers,  what  those  insolent  islanders  had  dared 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.      221 

to  say  publicly  against  their  great  and  magna- 
nimous consul ;  but  they  curtailed  every  thing 
which  miLiht  be  too  severely  felt  bv  the  ^rrand 
hero  :  they  substituted  other  and  milder  ex- 
pressions ;  and  it'there  were  any  thing  inserted 
which  could  not  be  softened  donn  so  far  as  to 
render  it  pLdatable  to  their  kind  master,  they 
left  it  out  entirely. 

If  a  public  ofiicial  paper  degrade  itself  to 
such  a  mean  pitiful  Jesuitic  artifice,  it  must 
lose  that  credit  which  it  no  longer  deserves. 
It  would  even  be  preferable  to  continue  in 
these  mutual  invectives,  and,  like  the  Moni- 
teur,  to  speak  of  '*  Imagination  cUrcglce, 
dclirc,  crime,  politique,  infcrnale,  Tunisiens, 
Algcricns,  passions,  haineuses  et  jaloiises, 
per  fides  ins  titrations:''  Or,  like  the  publiciste, 
of  hommes  atroccs,  qui  ont  solde  tons  les 
crimes,  qui  sont  loucs  an  mepris  de  V Europe, 
Jumcs  da  vin  de  Forto  qui  les  penetre  d'un 
saint  entJiusiasnie pour  la  liberie:  or,  like  th(^ 
open  hearted  rough  Englishman,  of  fraud,  rob- 


222  BONAPARTE 

bery,  and  breach  of  faith  ;  for  every  one  knows 
then  at  least,  that  they  are  in  a  passion,  and 
judges  of  them  accordingly. 

The  English  ambassador,  who  found  little 
to  praise  in  Paris,  saw  nothing  at  St.  Cloud  or 
Malmaison,  that  conld  jrive  him  more  favour- 
able  ihipressions.  The  attention  of  the  family 
of  Bonaparte  was  entirely  taken  up  with  the 
new  titular  promotion ;  and  it  \vas  only  de- 
bated, whether  Napoleon  Bonaparte  should 
be  invested  with  the  imperial  or  consular  dig- 
nity. When  tlie  imperial  crown  was  at  last 
proposed  in  the  senate  for  discussion,  one  pert 
orator  rose ;  but  touching  the  strings  that 
might  rather  jingle  too  much  in  the  cars  of 
the  people,  he  spoke  \\  ith  such  boldness  and 
force,  that  vanity  became  frightened,  and  he 
withdrew,  for  that  time,  the  proposal  of  7?;^- 
jesty.  Several  ministerial  papers  had,  iiow- 
ever,  the  meanness  to  attack  the  daring  ora- 
tor ;  but,  in  reality,  they  only  betrayed,  in  a 
very  clumsy  manner,  their  great  chagrin  on 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  223 
tlie  discomfiture  of  a  proposal,  which  it  was 
thought  would  meet  with  less  resistance  than 
any  former.  The  ministers  of  Bonaparte  reap- 
ed, however,  some  nominal  benefit  from  this 
manceuvre  ;  the  title  of  Excellency,  which 
had  previously  been  added  to  their  names  in 
tlie  court  calender,  no  doubt  to  save  the  trou- 
ble of  its  being  inserted  in  due  time,  was  given 
and  decreed  them  in  form. 

An  object  which  filled  the  family  of  Bona-  ' 
parte  with  great  concern  and  anxiety,  was  the 
miserable  state  of  atlairs  at  St.  Domingo,  and 
the  necessity  they  were  in  of  recalling  their 
stupid  and  rapacious  brother-in-law,  and  of 
commitiiig  this  important  and  profitable  com- 
mand to  a  stranger,  one  not  belonging  to  the 
family.  Trie  death  of  General  Leclerc  in  some 
respect  solved  thedifiiculty,  and  the  affairs  at 
St.  Domingo  began  to  wear  a  better  aspect, 
as  soon  as  tlie  helm  was  taken  from  such  un- 
skilful hands  ;  but  more  favorable  accounts  now 
arriving,  they  were  kept  very  secret,  and  the 


224  BONAPARTE 

former  bad  ones  suffered  to  continue  in  circu- 
Jati  ^n,  in  order  to  conceal  from  the  public  the 
striking  proofs  of  the  inaptitude  of  the  broth- 
er :  and  the  public  were  not  to  know  that  their 
most  valuable  island  was  on  the  point  of  being 
lost  by  family  protection. 

The  people  were  to  be  amused,  and  their 
attention  diverted,  by  exhibitions  of  fine  rib- 
bons, and  m  nlels  of  stars,  for  a  new  order, 
which  the  family  chose  to  substitute  for  the 
old  noble  one  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  It  should 
be  as  similar  to  the  latter  as  possible.  The 
blue  ribbon  of  the  same  breadth,  had  only  a 
small  red  line  in  tlie  middle,  and  a  small  white 
eclge.  The  few  remains  of" the  republican  tri- 
color on  this  ribbon,  veiy  emblematically  ex- 
pressed the  nature  of  the  present  mock  com- 
monwealHi,  The  star  was  to  represent  a  sun, 
and  the  Holy  Ghost  was  to  be  clianged  into 
an  eagle  soaring  witiiin  its  beams.  Yet  its 
introduction  was  also  laid  aside,  with  tlie 
proposed  imperial  majesty,  lor  a  time;  perhapv; 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  225 

until  the  legion  of  lion  }r,  and  the  senatorian 
order  could  be  introduced. 

This  also  was  the  olTspring  of  that  period 
of  vanity.    It  will,  perhaps,  procure  the  means 
to  silence  all  senators,  who  might  be  apt  to 
j>peak,  if  not  well  paid  for  their  taciturnity  :  and 
it  will  be,   at  the  same  time,  a  channel  from 
which    new  honors,    and  considerable   reve- 
nues, may  be  drawn  for  brothers   and  sisters. 
A  \ery   great  part    of  the   unsold   and  un- 
claimed national  property,  which  was  repeat- 
edly promised  to  the  arm)',  as  a  rewaj'd  of  their 
braver\',  has   been  allotted  to  the   senators. 
Yet    tliis   new  invention   of  family   fondness 
must  exasperate  the  army  still  more,  as  the 
late  execution  of  the  project  for  a  legion  of 
honor  is  still  delayed  ;  and  as  even  attempts 
have  J^een  made  to  extend  it  also  to  civil,  as 
well  as  military  persons,  ontrafy  to  its  origi- 
nal inlent,   which  was,   that    it   shoidd  only 
consist  of  military   men,    who  had   received 

swords  of  honor  as  a  reward  of  their  gallantry. 

s 


226  BONAPARTE 

It  was  to  be  divided  into  troops  or  cohorts  ; 
and  to  each  of  these  latter  should  be  assigned 
an  old  castle,  abbey,  or  other  public  building, 
where  every  member,  not  possessed  of  a  house 
of  his   own,  might   have   apartments,   and  a 
pension  allowed  him.    Yet  several  persons  fill- 
ing the  most  important  places  in  administra- 
tion, have  already  been  appointed  as  officers 
and   directors   of  the   lcQ:ion   of  honor,    and 
now  sit  in  the  hi'jrh  councils  or  committees  of 

o 

tlie   corps.     Here   again    means  have    been 

found    to     favor   the    family   of   Bonaparte, 

and  their  minions.     That  there  never  should 

have  been  the  least  idea  to  ofTer  Moreau,  the 

first  and  most  worthy  hero  of  France,  a  place 

in  the   legion  of   honor,   raises,    perhaj)s,   a 

greater  indignation  in  Germany,  where  this 

general,  even  when  an  enemy,  knew  how  to 

command  esteem  and  respect,  more  than  in 

frivolous  France. 

Whilst  attempts  were  making  to  introduce 
these  new  orders,  that  bear  a  great  similarity 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE  227 

with  that  of  Ciiiciniiatus  projected  in  America, 
great   care  was  also  taken  not  to  mention  a 
work  of  Mirabeau  on  this  order,  in  which  he 
explains  the  dangerous  tendency  of  such  in- 
stitutions  towards  despotism  and   oligarciiy. 
Alirabeau  particularly   in\ciglis    against    the 
incautious   introduction  of  nobility  ; /i  mea- 
sure   which   he  deprecates   in   the    lollovving 
words  : — "    Tout  ce  qui  est  sigtie,  ct  qui  pcut 
tout  a  couj)  server  de  ralliement  a  un  grand, 
nombrc  dlio)mncs,  qui  peut  former  un  esprit 
particulier    dans   ['esprit   genercd  qui    pent 
scparer  certain  nombre  de  ciloyens  du  corps  des 
citoijcns  est  been  plus  redoutable  par  ses  effets 
dans  une  repuhliquey  que  dans  unc  monarcli  ie,  S(c. 
Dans  la    vionarcliic  tout  tend  d.    C elevation ; 
dans  la  repubilque  tout  doit  tendre  d  Vegalite. 
Da)is  la  premie  re  il  faut  desrangs  ;  dans  la  se- 
conde  \lfaut  drs  vertus.   Les  signes exterieurs  de 
distinctions  sont  nalurlises  dans  la  monarchic, 
et  par  cela  mane  leur  influence  est  moins  dan- 
gereuse.     Mais  tons  ces  signes,  qui  distingucnt 


228  .       BONAPARTE 

sont  etrangers  an  gouvernemeyit  et  a  I'cspnf 
rcpiiblicam  :  et  si  le  corps  solitaire^  qui  oss 
ainsi  se  distinguer  est  un  corpSy  de  guerriers 
alors  tout  est  perdiL.  Im  liber te  ne  resterapas 
long  terns,  dans  des  climate ,  que  de  pareilles 
distinctions  outr agent T  * 

This  work  was  written  four  years  previous 
to  the  French  revolution,  for  the  benefit  of 
the  Americans,  M'ho  bad  then  introduced  the 


*  "  Whatever  is  a  sign  and  may  serve  as  a  rallying 
post  to  a  great  number  of  men  ; — whatever  may  form  a 
particular,  in  a  general  spirit ; — whatever  can  separate 
a  certain  number  of  citizens  from  the  whole  body,  is 
much  more  formidable  by  its  effects  in  a  republic  than 
in  a  monarchy  :  in  the  latter,  every  thing  tends  to  ele- 
vation ;  in  the  former,  every  thing  ought  to  produce 
equality  :  in  the  former,  distinctions  are  wanted  ;  in  the 
Idtter,  virtues. — The  outward  signs  of  these  distinctions 
are  naturalised  in  a  monarchy,  and  by  that  circum- 
stance, their  influence  is  less  dangerous  ;  but  all  distin- 
guishing characteristics  are  foreign  to  the  republican 
spirit,  us  'cIl  as  to  its  government;  and  if  that  solitary 
body,  which  thus  aspires  to  pre-eminence,  be  composed 
of  warriors,  all  is  lost  : — liberty  will  not  long  remain 
in  clin:iea  infected  by  such  distinctions." 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  229 

order  of  Ciuciiinatus,  already  consisting  of 
10,000  members.  The  effect  of  this  w(>rk 
was  the  immediate  and  careful  hmitation  of 
the  order ;  and  America  has  preserved  her 
Hberty,  The  French,  on  whom  all  good  ad- 
vice, all  instructive  examples  are  lost ;  who 
never  look  farther  than  to  tlie  present  moment ; 
who  proudly  boast  that  they  also  have  had  a 
revolution,  no  doubt  wish  for  a  better  consti- 
tution than  the  Americans ;  and  they  now 
reckon  as  many  of  them  as  revolutionary 
years,  while  they  are  always  committing  the 
same  faults  without  profiting  by  experience. 

The  miscarried  imperial  dignity  had  also 
caused  a  project  for  a  new-  coin,  with  the  head 
of  Bonaparte ;  but  they  could  not  agree  about 
the  titles  and  inscriptions.  A  day  was  ap- 
pointed in  March,  1803,  when  the  First  Con- 
sul w^as  to  go  to  the  mint  to  decide  upon  it. 
The  minister  of  hnances  informed  the  master 
only  two  days  before  cf  his  intended  visit, 
and  insisted  that  his  licad  must  be  stamped 


«30  BONAPARTE 

upon  the  c<^iii  in  his  presence,  in  order  to  sur- 
prise him  agreeably.  The  director  general  cl" 
the  medals,  a  great  artist,  maintained  the  im- 
possibility even  of  p) reducing  an  indifferent 
one  in  so  short  a  space,  and  insisted  on  Bo- 
naparte sitting  to  him,  in  order  that  it  might 
be  worthy  cf  the  First  Consul  and  the  nation, 
as  to  superior  excellence,  in  the  execution. 
When  the  minister  still  insisted,  a  young  man 
in  the  mint,  who  had  previou:sly  executed  a 
head  of  Bonaparte,  and  had  privately  offered 
to  realize  the  plan  of  the  ministerial  flatterer, 
finished  the  medal  tolerably  well,  and  the  like- 
ness was  striking.  Bonaparte  v.as  very  much 
pleased  with  the  young  artist,  desired  that  he 
might  be  presented  to  him  ;  and,  without  ask- 
ing whether  he  was  a  director  cf  the  medals  or 
not,  made  a  contract  with  him  f(;r  the  whole 
coinage  of  the  new  crowns  that  were  to  bear 
his  impression. 

It  appeared  en  this  occasion  how  httle  Bo- 
naparte thought  of  ( ppisition  in  the  senate, 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  231 

and  how  well  he  could  depend  on  their  acqui- 
escence.   He  asked  theyoung  man,  how  much 
time  it  would  ref^uire  to  finish  the  stamp  for  tlie 
new  dollars.     He    answered,  fourteen   days. 
Bonaparte  then  replied  :    "  Yes,  in  ten  dajs, 
the  law  will  have  passed  and  have  been  pro- 
claimed :  that  will  do."     And   by  these  few 
words  this  young  man  was  appointed,  against 
which  no  one  of tiie  present  minister-;,  nor  the 
general  director  of  the  mint,  nor  any  other  di- 
rector, dared  to  make    the   least  objection, 
though  they  knew  the  master  of  the  mint  must 
feel  very  much  hurt  3  and  this  inexperienced 
youth  must  be  sensible  both  of  the  affront  and 
of  ihe  loss,  which  the  innocent  man  must  suf- 
fer, if  such  a  considerable  commission  were 
taken  trom  him. 

Nevertheless,  experience  too  soon  proved 
to  the  Consul,  that  such  ra^il  decisions  may 
be  a  reward  for  an  assiduous,  submissive  flat- 
terer, but  cannot  give  ihe  talents  required. 
The  new  crowns  werc^  ready  at  the  ap[)ointed 
time,  but  wiien  they  were  issued  they  proved 


232  BONAPARTE 

not  only  indifTerent  in  workmanship,  but  also 
quite  inadmissible.  Tiie  artist  had  forgotten 
that  they  were  to  be  current,  and  had  there- 
fore made  the  head  and  inscriptions  too  pro- 
jecting, so  that  the  new  crowns  would  not  lie 
one  upon  another,  and  also  required  too  much 
room  in  the  chests  of  bankers  and  merchants  : 
they  were  therefore  called  in,  and  new  ones 
coined.  The  new  stamp  is  a  little  better  than 
the  former,  but  the  head  of  Bonaparte  had 
none  of  those  marked  traits  which  peculiarly 
characterise  his  countenance. 

Alany  ether  such  blunders  and  awkward 
attempts,  which  betrayed  the  novices  of  this 
mushroom  court,  very  often  happened  in  the 
Thuilleries,  and  must  have  surprised  the  lady 
of  the  English  aml^assador,  who  had  accom- 
panied the  late  Duke  of  Dorset  to  France, 
and  had  seen  tlie  court  of  the  unibrtunate 
queen.*     The  proud  Englishman  must  also  be 


•The  author  has  been  misinformed  :  her  Grace  the 


ANDIHE  FRENCH  PKOI'LK  23J 

onbndcd,  as  other  aml)as.sadors  were,  at  the 
several  demands  and  importunities  of  this 
neweourt.  There  was,  for  instance,  a  formal 
court-mourning  onlered,  on  t'ne  death  of 
(jeiieral  le  Clerc  _;  an  au(hence  of  condolence 
A\  as  announced  to  tlie  ILnijhsh  and  other  am- 
bassadors,  which  they  were  coni{)e1]e<l  to  oh- 
ser\e,  and  {)ay  visits  to  the  u hole  'family. 
He  was  forced  at  such  consular  audioices  to 
wait,  like  other  ambassadors,  tbr  whole 
honrs,  in  the  confmed  anti-ciiambers,  till  the 
Consul  was  pleased  to  make  liis  appearance. 
Several  circumstances,  wiiich  could  onlv  be 
ascribed  to  the  greatest  inexperience,  or  inat- 
tention, if  not  to  a  petulant  pride,  rendered 
these  delays  highly  disagreeable,  if  not  dan- 
gerous, litis  was  [)articularly  the  case  on 
the  third  of  A])ril,  the  day  appointed  fortliC 


Dulchess  of  Dorset  was  not  in  France  \viUi  the  Duke 
v.Iicn  ai^iha^sado"  ;  she  was  man  ied  to  hi  ni  after  his 
M.'Ui'n  IVoi'n  that,  euibassv. 


234  BONAPARTE 

grand  parade,  which  usually  precedes  the  au- 
diences of  the  foreign  ambassadors.  This  pa- 
rade degenerated  into  a  sort  of  special  review 
of  all  the  troops  garrisoned  in  Paris.  Even 
the  conscripts  appeared  dressed  in  their  white 
frocks,  and  the  soldiers  witli  their  knapsacks, 
and  every  thing  necessary  to  take  the  field  at 
a  minute's  notice.  The  principal  gates  leading 
to  the  Thuilleries  were  shut,  and  Bonaparte, 
who  usually  passes  the  ranks  on  horseback, 
went  this  time  on  foot.  He  opened  several 
linapsacks,  ordered  shoes,  whicli  he  found  of 
bad  workmanship,  to  be  thrown  away.  He 
commanded  a  soldier  to  pull  oft'  his  coat, 
which  he  tore  in  two,  as  a  warning  to  the  con- 
tractors. He  questioned  them,  and  severely 
reprimanded  some  of  the  field-officers  present. 
He  asked  the  conscripts  respecting  the  quali- 
ty of  the  soups  which  they  received,  nothing 
else  having  been  provided  for  them. 

By  these  proceedings  he  hoped,  perhaps,  to 
persuade  the  soldier  who  thinks  himself  dis- 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.      235 

regarded,  and  who  is  dissatisfied,  that  he  is 
not  unmindlhl  of  them  ;  and  probably  meant 
this  as  a  hint  to  the  English  ambassador,  that 
he  was  ready  to  march,  if  the  answer  from 
England  did  not  prove  satisfactory ;  similar 
hints  had  been  already  thrown  out  in  several 
audiences. 

This  grand  parade  now  lasted  five  hours, 
instead  of  an  hour  and  a  half,  its  usual  time. 
The  ambassadors,  who  had  received  no  notice, 
arrived  at  the  wonted  hour,  accompained  by 
many  foreigners,  whom  they  wished  to  present 
to  the  Consul ;  but  they  found  the  gates  of 
the  Thuilieries  shut.  After  waiting  at  the 
outside,  just  before  the  iron  rails,  where  the 
review  took  place,  they  were  at  last  informed, 
that  they  might  walk  up  to  a  side  gate,  which 
should  be  opened  to  them.  They  were  com- 
pelled to  submit,  and  went,  in  full  dress, 
through  a  part  of  the  garden  to  enter  the  pa- 
lace ;  but  they  also  found  the  gate  leading  to 
it  closed,  Luid  were  again  forced  to  wait,  every 


i33G  BONAPARTE 

wlicre  sunoiuKlcd  by  a  ra'oblc,  who  had 
been  siitVered  to  pass  through  an  opposite 
door.  Tliis  was,  indeed,  a  disagreeable  situa- 
tion ibr  the  Euglish  amijassador  in  partieular, 
as  the  eonimon  people  looked  upon  thisspeeial 
re\ie\v  as  a  w arlikc  preparation  against  Eng- 
land, He  was  still  more  ex])0sed  to  the  un- 
pleasant curiosity  (A'  tlie  cnnmon  people,  on 
account  of  his  grand,  stately  appearance,  his 
richly  enibr:  idered  coat,  and  Jiis  star  and 
ribbon,  which  continually  attracted  tlie  eyes 
o^'thep-'pulace.  After  ha\ing  walked  a  con- 
siderable time,  and  aft;er  much  knocking  at  the 
door,  it  was  cponed,  and  tiie  ambassadors 
ibund  at  la.>i  an  asyluiu  in  the  narrow  anti- 
(•hamljei',  wlicre  they  were  still  compelled  to 
wait  se\eral  lioin's,  t,Il  it  iT-rew  almost  dark, 
b'i'ore  ihev  wt-ve  adinittcd. 

I'l'  the  E  iropean  powers  do  not  especially 
an^l  strictly  counmand  their  ambassadors  to 
resist.  bU'Ai  ha',!g!ilin<j>s,  vvltich  surj:)asses  even 
tiiat  of  tij'.^  old  Ivonians  towards  the  envoys  of 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  237 

subjected  iialions,  it  will  increase  e\  cry  year, 
and  tiiese  foreign  powers  will  become  con- 
tcnipliblein  the  eyes  of  the  people,  in  propor- 
ti';n  as  Bonaparte  gains  respect.  Every  no- 
ble-minded subject  of  such  sovereigns,  wha 
arc  represented  by  their  ambassadors  at  Paris, 
must  be  deeply  hurt  by  tlie  pride  and  arro- 
garicc  of  the  consular  court.  It  is  probable 
tliat  the  First  Consul  docs  not  encourage  this 
insolence  ;  that  he  is  ignorant  of  many  offen- 
sive occurrences,  or  perhaps  not  sensible  rf 
them,  being  naturally  of  an  unfeeling  and  se- 
vere (]i>;[}0.sition,  whicii  Was  far  from  being 
s  Itened  cr  refined  by  the  education  he  re- 
ceived. His  Ibllovvers  visiblv  delight  in  this 
humiliating  treatment  of  others,  and  will  cer- 
tainly coniinue  it,  till  tlie  attention  of  the 
Fifbt  Consul  be  roused  by  repeated  and  earn- 
est remoiistruuces. 

The  English  ambassador,  who  had  reason  to 
be  disgusted  at  the  Thuilleries,  found  as  htth: 
iii  Paris  and  in  all  l^j  auce,  to  reconcile  him,  o)' 


238  BONAPARTE 

to  gain  his  esteem,  for  he  saw  a  degraded  peo- 
ple, bearing,  in  slavish  abjection,  the  tyranny 
of  a  despotic  ruler. 

Some  consular  decrees,  respecting  the  future 
public  instruction  and  administration,  appeared 
about  that  time.  A  stranger  to  the  history  of 
Europe,  might  have  inferred,  from  the  tenor  of 
many  new-made  regulations,  that  the  present 
master  of  the  French  had  it  in  view,  to  raise  a 
savage  nation  from  a  state  of  barbarity,  to  the 
first  degree  of  civilization.  For  to  the  eye  of 
an  European  observer,  his  laws,  and  ordinan- 
ces, certainly  had  this  tendency,  viz.  to  impress 
the  French  with  a  strong  military  character. 

But  the  short-bighted  Frenchmen,  were  not 
struck  by  them  :  perhaps  they  never  gave  them 
a  thought.  They  were  amused  with  pompous 
paneg3Tics,  on  the  grand  and  pretended  hu- 
mane views  of  government,  to  promote  know- 
ledge, and  to  procure  to  the  people  the  bles- 
sings of  liberty.  They  had  been  deceived  and 
led  astray,  in  former  times,  by  the  declamations 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  23» 
of  their  constitution  makers,  on  equality ;  now 
they  were  blinded,  and  over-awed  by  loud  en- 
comiums on  the  greatness  of  their  ruler,  and 
the  high  fame  of  the  conqueror. 

French  pride  aimed  at  singularity  from  the 
beginning  of  the  revolution.  They  would 
have  no  system,  of  ancient  or  modern 
times,  as  a  model.  No  !  the  great  and  en- 
lightened nation  woidd  go  on  its  own  way,  and 
would  give  itself  a  constitution,  which  might 
serve  as  a  pattern  to  future  ages  :  not  such  an 
one  as  the  English  boasted  so  much  of;  it  was 
too  imperfect  in  their  eyes,  it  had  too  much  of 
the  barbarous  usages  of  feudal  times.  The 
Americans  had  only  adapted  their's  to  an  in- 
considerable people,  just  beginning  to  form 
itself,  and  living  dispersed  over  a  wide  plain  ; 
for  them,  a  federal  system  might  be  useful. 
Perfection  in  every  thing  was  the  hue  and 
cry  in  France  ;  yet,  this  people,  so  eager  to 
bring  every  thing  to  perfection,  forgot  and 
overlooked  the  only  means  by  which  it  might 


240  BONAPARTE 

be  attained,  namely,  the  improvement  of 
public  instruction.  Durini^  the  first  ten  years 
of  the  revolution,  they  ne\  er  cast  a  look  on 
this  great  object,  they  ne\er  thought  of  re- 
forming the  public  schools,  the  great  and  sole 
basis  of  general  improvement, 

Tiie  champions,  and  authors  of  the  French 
revolution,  were  certainly  ready  to  grant  sup- 
port and  assistance  to  great,  splendid,  and 
striking  enterprises,  in  order  to  add  to  the 
glory  of  France  :  but  the  less  shining,  tliwiigii 
peaceful  and  necessary  instructions  to  secure 
the  true  happiness  of  citizens,  were  neglected. 
All  former  establishments  of  celebrity  were, 
therefore,  enlarged,  and  rendered  still  more 
splendid ;  but  for  the  extension  of  general 
knowledge,  nothing  was  done.  Tlie  botanic 
garden,  already  greatly  renowned,  was  highly 
improved.  BotcUiic  museums  were  erected  ; 
lectures  on  chemistry,  on  natural  history,  and 
on  every  branch  of  science,  distantly  connected 
with  botany,  were  established.  The  celebrated 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  241 

ibiir  academics  were  changed  into  a  grand 
national  itistitution,  including  all  arts  and 
sciences,  and  by  its  constitution,  the  respec- 
tability, and  the  laudable  efforts  of  its  mem- 
be  is,  surpassed  every  thing  of  the  kind  in 
Europe.  The  former  great  royal  colleges,  for 
students,  were  changed  into  a  general  aca- 
dem\',  called  Ecolfi  Pohjtcchniqiie^  wdiere  all 
arts  and  sciences  were  publicly  taught  ;  >^et, 
for  the  common  scliools  in  the  provinces,  and 
in  the  country,  very  little  was  done;  and  where 
any  improvement  had  been  made,  it  was  gene- 
rally oA\  ing  to  the  private  endeavours  of  the 
masters  in  central  academies.  Little  as  this 
was,  it  is  now  absolutely  destroyed,  by  the 
new  regulations  for  the  Lyceums,  published 
by  the  consuls. 

These  regulations  for  the  Lyceums,  substi- 
tuted for  central  scliools,  can  serve  as  a  model 
for  all  military  and  despotic  states. 

The  first  article  evidently  shews,  that  the 
former  contemptible  French  schools  have  been 


242  BONAPARTE 

taken  as  a  pattern  for  the  iie\v  ones  :  It  is 
Morded  in  the  following  manner  :  On  enseig- 
ncra  esstntidlcment  dans  les  lycess  ie  latin,  ct 
hts  mathnnatiques  :  and  the  last  article  proves, 
that  the  bigotry  of  former  schools  was  to  be 
preserved ;  for  it  says  :  //  ij  anra  un  aumonier 
dans  chaque  iycce.  (Each  lyceum  shall  have 
a  chaplain.) 

The  masters  of  hitin  and  mathematics,  at 
these  lyceums,  arc  also  to  teach  geography, 
mythology,  ancient  histor\',  and  arithmetic. 
No  mention  at  all  is  made  of  ancient  or  mo- 
dern languages,  moral  philosophy,  pcetry, 
vkc.  but  military  exercises  are  chiefly  insisted 
on. 

The  nineteenth  article  contains  the  fol- 
lowing order  :  "  Un  officicr,  inslrucleiir  sera 
cJiargc  d' apprendrc,  rcxercicc  aux  clcves  qui 
auront  plus,  dc  douzc  j  il  cnscigncra  a  ceux, 
qui  auront  alleint  cat  age,  Ic  manicment  dcs 
armes  ct  Ccole  du  pdoton  ;  il  sera  oblige  de  sc 
frcver,  a  toules  ks  licurcs  pour  commander 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  24i 

Ics   mciTchcs  dcs    clevcs   dans   Icitr  different 
7nouvcmi'nt  de  la  journec.''^ 

The  whole  internal  constitution  of  these  ly- 
ceums  is  truly  military,  and  the  schools,  for 
the  sons  of  French  citizens,  will  be,  in  future, 
notliing  else  but  martial  establishments.  The 
boys  are  divided  into  companies  :  have  their 
Serjeants,  serjeant-majors,  and  corporals,  as- 
signed them,  and  if  they  are  led  out,  they 
must  march  in  a  body,  and  always  have  a  cen- 
sor, a  quartermaster,  an  officer,  and  a  drilling 
Serjeant  at  their  head. 

The  tv.enty-tliird  article  of  the  new  regula- 
tion deserves  a  place  here.  It  says  :  Tout  ce 
cjiii  est  rclatij  au.v  rcpas,  aiix  recreations,  aux 
])romenades,  an  sommeil,  scfera  par  compag- 


*  A  military  instructor  shall  have  the  charge  of 
leaching  the  manual  exercise  to  those  pupils  who 
shall  be  more  than  twchc  yeais  of  age  j  all  such 
shall  be  taught  the  military  and  platoon  exercises  : 
the  master  shall  be  ol)ligtd  to  assist,  at  staled  times, 
in  directing  ihcnii  to  jierfoim  the  various  evolu- 
tions. 


244  BONAPARTE 

nic.  All  the  punishments  of  the  boys  are  just 
the  same  as  in  the  French  army,  namely, 
la  prison  ct  les  arrSts  ;  la  tabic  dc  penitence 
only  has  been  added.  Yet,  in  the  schools,  or 
Lyceums,  already  established  at  Paris,  the  boys 
are  dreadfully  flogged  and  beaten ;  and  the 
incredible  filth  of  the  school-rooms  renders  it 
almost  impossible,  to  a  friend  of  cleanliness, 
to  remain  there  for  any  length  of  time.  Tiie 
insicles  of  these  schools,  resemble  the  barracks 
of  tlie  worst  description,  with  this  exception, 
that  thelatter  are  generally  kept  much  cleaner. 

The  most  curious  of  all  the  articles  in  this 
new  consular  regulation,  are  the  eleventh  and 
the  twenty-seventh.     They  are  thus  worded. 

XI.  II  sera  nomme  deux  commissions, 
I'unc  pour  le  latin,  r autre  pour  les  niathcma- 
tiques.  Elles  dresscront  une  instruction,  qui 
deter  miner  a  d'une  maniere  precise  les  parties, 
(juon  doit  enseigner  dans  chacjue  classe,  et  les 
cours  (jUon  doit  suivrc.  Elles  traccroni  avec 
soin  Vordrc  a  ctublir  enlre  les  cours  qui  seronf 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.        245 

suivis  siinulet  tanimcnt  ei  la  durce  de  cliaque 
classc  ;  ellcs  s'occupcront  de  la  rcimpressioji 
des  autcurs  class iqucs  ct  la  disposeront  de 
inanicre,  qiCily  alt  aidant  de  volumes^  qiiily 
a  de  classes,  en  reunlssayit  dans  un  scid  et 
mcme  volume  tout  cc  que  doit  montrcr  le  pro- 
Jesseur  pour  une  classe  de  latin,  ainsi  que  tout 
ce  qui  apparticnt  a  une  classe  de  mathtnia- 
tiques.  On  pour r a  diviserles  volumes,  selon  les 
parties  d" euseignenientpour  Cusage  des  eleves. 
Le  professeur  ne  pourra,  sous  quelque prctexte 
qui  ce   soit,  cnseigner  d'autress  oucrages* 

*  Two  comraiitces  shall  be  appointed,  one  for  the 
Lalin,  and  the  other  for  mathematics  ;  they  are  to 
plan  a  mode  of  instruction,  that  shall  determine  in  a 
precise  manner  the  branches  that  are  to  be  taught  in 
each  class,  and  the  different  studies  to  be  pursued  ; 
they  are  carcfuHy  to  devise  the  order  that  shall  be  es- 
tablifihed,  and  the  duration  of  each  particular  pursuit  ; 
they  shall  superintend  the  re-printing  of  the  classic 
authors,  which  ihcy  shall  dispose  in  such  a  manner,  as 
to  make  as  many  volumes  as  there  are  forms  ;  taking 
care  to  compress  in  one  volume,  what  the  professor 
is  to  teach  to  ihe  Latin  form,  and,  likewise,  to  those 
who  learn  mathematics.  They  may  divide  the  vo- 
lumes according  to  the   several  modes  of  instruc- 


246  BONAPARTE 

XXVII.  II  y  aura  dans  chaque  l\)dc  juic 
hibliothcque  de  1500  to?nes  ;  tonics  les  hib- 
liothcques  seront  composccs  des  mcmes  ouvra- 
gesj  aucun  autre  ouvragd  ne  pourra  ij  etre 
place  sans  V antorisation  da  ministre  dc  Vinli- 
rieur.  Les  ouvrages  seront  prctcs  aux  eleves 
pour  qu  Us  puis  sent  lire  dans  leur  recreation 
les  jours  defiles,  el  de  vacances.* 

For  the  Frencli  seminaries,  and  their  in- 
structors, no  printing  offiees  will  be  necessary 
in  future.  The  treasures  of  learning,  which 
we  possess  from  ancient  times,  amounting  to 
many  hundred  volumes,  will  be  compressed 


tion,  for  the  use  of  the  pupils  ;  and  it  shall  not  be 
lawful  for  the  teacher,  under  any  pretence  whatever, 
to  make  use  of  any  other  author. 

*  Each  lyceum  shall  contain  a  library,  consisting  of 
1500  volumes  ;  every  library  shall  be  composed  of 
the  same  works,  and  no  otjier  shall  be  introduced  with- 
out the  authority  of  the  minister  of  the  interior  ;  the 
pupils  shall  have  five  access  to  those  books,  for  their 
private  reading,  in  the  days  of  festivals  and  holidays. 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  247 

into  six  for  the  bovs  and  for  the  youth  of" 
France,  conlbrniably  to  the  will  and  pleasure 
of  the  consular  majesty  ;  for  there  are  only  six 
Latin  forms,  and  everv^  form  shall  have  only 
one  single  ^oIlune  for  the  whole  year.  The 
library,  which  is  to  contain  1500  books,  and 
no  more,  will  be  filled  with  the  historical  and 
matiiematical  works  of  the  Jesuits,  which,  by 
the  bye,  are  very  voluminous :  and  thus  the 
youth  of  the  nineteenth  century  will  have 
every  possible  instruction,  and  more  than  suf- 
ficient means  to  become  as  enlightened  and 
accomplished  as  the  First  Consul,  who  cer- 
tainly did  not  recei\  e  a  better  education.  As 
t')  the  makers  and  reviewers  of  the  six  volumes 
for  the  use  of  these  lyceums,  as  they  enter 
but  half  way  in  his  plans,  we  shall  have 
a  pretty  fair  scale,  and  a  curious  monument 
of  future  French  culture  in  the  present 
age. 

The  hatred  of  the  First  Consul  to  all  repub- 
lican forms  extends  itself  equally  to  all  insti- 


248  BONAPARTE 

tutions  of  arts  and  sciences,  which  owe  their 
origin  to  the  revolution.  From  the  grand  na- 
tional institute,  renowned  and  celebrated  as  it 
was  throughout  all  Europe,  down  to  the 
school  for  trumpeters  at  Versailles,  we  meet 
with  nothing  new.  There  was  a  separate  class 
in  the  national  institute,  for  natural  philoso- 
phy, ethics,  politics  and  legislation,  on  ac- 
count of  their  being  so  closely  connected. 
Richelieu,  the  old  despotic  minister  of  France, 
would  not  have  suffered  such  a  dangerous 
union  in  his  four  ancient  academies  ;  nor  will 
Bonaparte  allow  it.  The  national  institute  is, 
therefore,  dissolved,  and  branched  out  again 
into  the  four  old  royal  academies,  where  dan- 
gerous questions  are  not  to  be  discussed  in  fu- 
ture, nor  any  thing  be  said  that  was  allowed 
even  under  the  s^overnment  of  Louis  XIV. 
XV.   and  XVI. 

The  degenerated  child  of  the  revolution  now 
stands  uppermost,  and  higher  perhaps  than 
former  monarchs.     The  light  which  the  latter 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLK.  2W 

feared,  will  be  tiiorcibrc  c([uu!ly  liateful  aufl 
dangerous  to  liini.  In  several  eentral  schools, 
which  really  deserved  the  name  of  schools, 
some  ihinking  men  had  already  begun  to  give 
lectures  on  ethics,  history,  andslatica!  know- 
](^i\^c — sciences  w  hich  the  Frencli  never  heard 
ofbelore.  'rhouvh  ever\'  thinij  v.iis  still  im- 
[)oriect,  the  [)alh  wa^  al  least  ojjeue  I ;  yt  it 
was  thought  too  dimgerous.  'iT>':'  conf[ii';ror 
onlv  wanted  a  v,  arliUe  nation  ,  atiy  know  led  .:e 
unnecessary  ior  a  siVidicr,  who  is  ini[/!i.;  illy  to 
obey,  miglit  be  s[)ared  in  j^iiid.e  instrecli(;n. 
Tlie  Jesuits  formerly  taugiit  Latin  and  mathe- 
matics ;  the  same  shoidd  be  adlicred  to  at  pre- 
sent. "  Ti'ois-  maitrt's  dc  r.uithcinaliauis  cL 
trois  dc  la  lau^uc  Latiiic,  ca  s:/'JiL"  'J'h-;s 
wrote  the  First  Consid,  \v;th  iiis  own  iiaiid,  at 
the  l>ottom  oj"the  plan  ibr  pablic  in,structic;:i, 
[)resentcd  l)y  the  learned  Cuvier  ai^d  Fourcje,',-, 
after  striking  it  through  from  tlie  begim-,ing  to 
the  end.  That  these  worth\-  mc-n  luce  )^o 
share  in  the  drawing-  is:)  of  the   new  ciais^Iar 


250  BONAPARTE 

regulations,  is  too  evident,  l)y  their  whole  ten* 
or  vind  ])}  the  rules  :  na}',  even  by  the  wording 
of  them. 

How  contemptuous  and  disgraceful  an  opi- 
nion must  Bonaparte  have  of  the  French,  by 
thus  driving  them  back  into  the  state  of  igno- 
rance and  barbarism  of  past  centuries:  and 
how  well  does  the  nation  justify  his  mean  opi- 
nion, by  basel}'  submitting  in  silence  to  this 
degradation.  A  nation  who  had  to  boast  of  a 
Descartes,  a  Alalcbranche,  a  Bayle,  a  Pascal, 
a  Montesquieu,  a  Ilopital,  a  Daynesseau,  a 
Colbert,  a  jMably,  a  d'Alcmbert,  a  Voltaire, 
a  Rousseau,  a  Diderot,  a  Ilelvetius,  aRa}'nal, 
a  Thomas,  a  Aliral^cau,  6cc.  <Scc.  A  nation 
wh(>  heard  with  enthusiasm,  and  loudly  ap- 
plvTudcd  the  bold  language  of  liberty  in  the 
works  of  Corncillo,  of  A^oltaire,  and  otlicrs. 
A  nation,  A\ho  tv.clve  years  ago  found  no 
liberty,  no  infirmation,  no  scientific  institu- 
tion, too  splendid,  too  great,  or  too  extensive, 
now  sutlers  a  stran:xci%  "ho  owes  to  her  all 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  251 
his  instruction  and  power,  to  rob  her  of'lier 
liberty,  and  of"  every  hberal  infomiation. 

To  their  shame  be  it  spoken,  they  are  still 
the  very  same  people  they  have  been  described 
b}  their  own  and  foreign  writers.  Gregoire 
de  Tours,  their  I'amous  historian,  represented 
tlie  Francs,  under  their  first  kings,  at  the  com- 
mencement ol"  the  Christian  aera,  as  a  feroci- 
ous and  savage  nation,  only  softened  or  over- 
awed by  the  terrors  of  Christianity,  whose 
kings  were  a  set  of  unjust  and  cruel  ruffians. 
He  paints  them  as  a  nation  by  no  meims  of- 
fended at  the  atrocities  and  murders  commit- 
ted by  their  kings,  because  they  were  them- 
selves robbers  and  unjust ;  as  a  nation  cer- 
tainly possessed  of  an  estaMished  law,  but  who 
suftered  their  kings  to  render  that  law  useless, 
by  arbitraiy  written  orders  to  tlie  judges, 
commanding  the  disuse  of  it^  a;  ho  permitted 
their  kings  to  abolish  these  laws,  and  to  put 
anv  one  to  death  without  the  form  of  a  trial  ; 
tg  authorise  marriages  which  were  proliibited  ; 


252  BONAPARTE 

to  poniiit  nuns  to  marry  ;  to  withdraw  inheri- 
tunrcs  tV  ;iu  lawful  heirs  ;  and  to  execute,  at 
pleasure,  their  tyrannous  and  arbitrary  will, 
bv  a  total  suppression  of"  all  laws. 

Let  lis  now  ccniparc  these  ancient  ferocious 
Francs  with  the  modern  French,  as  depicted 
by  Alably  ;  "  Les  Francois,'^  says  he,  (Obser- 
vations sur  I'FIistoire  de  France,  torn.  1.  p. 
12.3.  (LHivres  completes  dc  I'Abbe  Mably*) 


*   Observations  on  the  history  of  France,  from  tht; 
works  of  the  Abbe'  Mably,  vol.  1.  page  123. 

The  French,  says  he,  abandoned  themselves  to 
their  passions,  and  were  guided  by  them  ;  and  con- 
f<;!ii!cli;ig  licentiousness  with  liberty,  and  the  povversof 
ihc  law  wUii  tyranny,  without  any  rule  or  principle, 
tliey  \'.'ere  familiarised  in  a  state  cfanarchy,  with  all 
t!i<;he  dii,o."dtrs  wliich  tlicy  knew  not  huw  to  remedy. 
The  iatcre.-t  of  tlic  stro'.igebt  seemed  to  prevail  over 
that  of  the  puldi-:. 

i-^ver  disunited,  fei'ccious,  savage,  and  violent, 
tn;alii;g  ea^^h  other  like  enemies,  regardic->s  of  their 
common  origin — confoimding  the  iiiost  mibounded 
lice!.lioi!.:,iie:5S  '^itii  liberty — of  an  insatiable  avidity 
— they  foresa.v  notliing — inconsidcration  ever  was 
tilt  fundan\tntal  \  ice  ofthe  nation — they  carried  im- 
prudence to  an   tnurmous    excess — this    eternal  in- 


AND  THE  FRENXn  PEOPLE.  253 

**  conliniiercni  dc  sc  laisscr  condidre  augrc  de 
leiirs passions  et  dcs  cvhiemcns  i  ctconjondant 


consideration  of  the  French  was  joined  to  the  mast 
protouncl  ignorance  of  their  antiquity. 

They  -were  plunged  into  the  most  profound  igno- 
r^u.cc — into  the  most  barbarous  ig-norance. 

'i'hev  were  an  ignorant  and  savage  people. 

They  were  laore  vain  than  ambilious. 

Of  a  misconceived  pride. 

They  made  it  a  point  of  honour  to  be  arbitrary. 

From  their  love  of  independence  arose  pride  and 
revolt. 

The  most  inconsiderate  nation  in  the  universe,  and 
the  most  easily  deceived. 

Atrocious  Brigands. 

Of  a  mercenary  disposition. 

They  suffered  iliemselves  to  be  intimidated  and  cor- 
rupted ;  and  lost  to  all  shame,  they  made  use  of  the 
influence  vvhich  their  situation  gave  them,  to  encrease 
their  private  fortune  :  violating  themselves  those  laws 
of  which  tiiey  were  to  be  the  guardians  and  protectors. 

Have  we  not  witnessed,  in  the  course  of  our  histo- 
ry, that  the  French,  ever  altering  and  corrupting  cus- 
toms, vv-hich  they  thought  tliey  were  only  folloNving, 
had  contracted  the  habit  of  having  no  fixed  character  \ 
they  acknowledged  no  other  right  but  the  contradic- 
tory examples  of  the  caprice2  of  their  ancestors. 

There  is  no  nation  that  abandons  itself  more  raskly 
to  hope  than  the  French  ;  but  iu  displaying  the  Jrrci't- 


254  BONAPARTE 

la  licence  avec  la  liberie,  le  pouvoir  des  loix  avc<i 
la  tyrannies  ne  formcrenl  qiC  une  societe  sans 
reale  et  principe.  Us  se  familiarlserent  dans 
Vanarchie  avec  les  dcsordres  aux  quels  Us 
navaicnt  pas  Vart  de  rhnidier  ;  V  inter  et  du 
plus  fort  semble  toujours  decider  de  Vinteret 
public  y 

This  patriotic  historian  declares  to  have 
found  his  nation  during  a  thousand  years,  ^^  tou- 
jours desuniSy  fervces,  bimtaux  et  emporlesy 
se  traitant  en  ennemis,  sans  igard  pour  leur 
origine  commune,  (vol.  1,  p.  152).  Confon- 
dant  la  licence  la  plus  extreme  avec  la  liberie 
(vol.  1,  p.  157),  d'une  avidife  insatiable  (vol. 
1,  p.  143).  He  says  of  them  :  "  Us  ne  pri- 
virent  rien,  V inconsideration  fut  toujours  le 


est  courage,  no  people  is  more  apt  to  fall  into  the  last 
state  of  despair.  Examine  the  character  of  the  Freach, 
and  then  judge  how  fit  they  are  to  resist  any  govern- 
ment. The  vices  they  have  contracted  since  the  reign 
of  Louis  XIII.  through  their  effeminacy,  avarice, 
luxury,  and  a  servile  ambition,  have  so  far  degraded 
their  soul,  that  though  they  have  still  reason  enough 
to  fear  despotism,  they  no  longer  have  courage  to  love 
libertv. 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE  255 

vicefondamenlal  denotvenation  (vol.  1,  p.  171) 
ils  cLaicnt  d'line  imprudence  tnorme  (vol.  2,  p. 
43).  L'iuconsidcration  cternelle  des  Francois 
cloit.  jointe  a  V ignorance  la  plus  profondc  dc 
leur  ant i quite  vol.  1,  p.  .318)  ils  etaient 
plongcs  dans  la  plus  prof onde  ignorance  (vol. 

2,  p.  112 — vol.  3,  p.  34),  dans  Hgnorancc  la 
plus  barbare  (vol.  2,  p.  162)  im  peuple  igno- 
rant, brutal  (vol.  2,  p.  261),  plus  vain  qiC 
ambiiieux  (vol.  2,  p.  166)  d'une  vanilc  mal 
eniendue  (vol.  2,  p.  46.)  On  s'yfaiso)t  un 
point  d'Jionneur  de  se  conduire  arbitrairement 

(vol.  2,  p.  13)  de  Vindependance,  Jiertc,  re- 
volte  (vol.  2,  p.  14),  la  nation  de  tunivers  la 
plusinconsidcree  etla  plus  aisee  a  tromper  (vol. 

3,  p.  11),  d'un  brigandage  atroce  (vol,  2, 
p.  53),  d'un  esprit  mcrcenaire  (vol.  2,  27^5), 
Apres  s'ctre  laisscs  intimider,  ils  se  laisscrent 
corrompre  ;  et  profitant  enjin  sans  pudeur  du 
credit,  que  Icur  donnoit  leur  emploi pour  ac- 
croitre  leur  fortune  domestique,  ils  vioU'rcnt 
cux  mcines  Ics  lots,  dont  ils  dcvaient  ctre  les 
liar  die  ns   el  Irs  prolcctcurs  /vol.  2,   p.   202). 


256  BONAPARTE 

N'at  on  pas  va  dans  tout  le  cours  dc  notre' 
Jiistoire,  que  Ics  Francois  alterant,  chaut^cavJ, 
de  natiirant  sans  cessc  Ics  coutumcs  auxcjucllcs 
lis  croyoiejit  obcir,  avoicnt  coniractc  Ihahi- 
tude  de  71  avoir  aucunc  lenuc  dans  le  carac- 
tere,  et  ne  connoissoient  d'autre  droit  pub- 
lic ^  que  les  e .temples  opposes  des  caprices  et 
des  passions  de  leurs  ptres  (vol.  2,  p.  Ho.) 
//  n'y  a  point  de  peuple  qui  se  livre  plus 
icmcrairement  a  Vesperance  que  les  Fran- 
cois ;  mais  en  montrant  le  plus  grand  cou- 
rage, aucun  peuple  aussi  n'est  plus  propre 
a  tomher  dans  le  dernier  decouragement.  Ex- 
aminez  le  caract}re  de  la  nation  Frangolse 
et  jugez  de  la  resistance  quil  pent  appor- 
ter  au  gouvernement ,  Les  vicesque  la  mot- 
lesse  le  luxe,  V avarice,  et  nne  ambition  ser- 
vile ontfait  contract er  aux  Francois  depuis  le 
regno  de  Louis  XIII.  out  tellcment  afj'aisst 
leur  dme,  quayant  encore  assez  de  raison  pour 
eraindre  le  despotisme  ils  nont  plus  assez  dr 
courage  pour  aimer  la  liberie.'' 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  257 

AVlio  could  ever  think,  that  this  was  the 
picture  of  modem  France  ?  Who  could  have 
thouglit,  that  all  the  enormous  subversions 
which  accompanied  the  revolution ;  that  all 
the  zeal  and  wisdom  of  the  first  national  as- 
sembly ;  all  the  undaunted  cunning  of  the 
second ;  all  the  horrors  and  abominations  of 
the  convention  ;  all  the  pedantry,  and  talka- 
tive insipidity  of  the  directory  ;  nay,  still 
more,  who  could  have  imagined,  that  a  vic- 
torious war  of  ten  years  against  all  Europe, 
could  make  no  imi)ression  on  the  depraved 
national  character  ?  Who  could  have  thought, 
that,  after  such  revolutions ;  after  so  many 
wars  and  victories,  not  a  Frenchman,  but  a 
stranger,  \vho  fought  and  conquered  by  their 
means,  could  only  be  found  endued  with  the 
power  to  chain  them  down,  as  Charles  Mar- 
tcl  did  a  thousand  years  ago,  or  as  Richelieu, 
in  the  last  century. 

Mably  has  pointed  out  the  key  to  solve  this 
enigma  i  it  is  their  utter  want  of  respect  to 

Y 


258  BONAPARTE 

the  established  law.  Of  what  use  are  a  thou- 
sand and  ten  thousand  institutions,  devised 
and  planned  by  the  most  enlightened  and  re- 
flecting men,  if  they  are  to  be  for  ever  altered 
by  the  arrogance  and  self-conceit  of  vain  lev 
gislators ;  often  acknowledged  by  all  national 
assemblies,  and  afterwards  rejected,  repeated- 
ly published,  and  again  annulled.  Of  what  use 
are  they,  if  the  tjTanny  of  selfishness  and  sen- 
suality over  the  hearts  of  men,  prevent  and 
annihilate  their  effect.  Mirabeau  said,  with 
great  truth,  "  Ce  sont  siir  tout  ks  bonnes 
moeurs,  sans  lesqiielles  les  mellleurcs  loix  ne 
seraient  qiiun  frein  impuissant.  II  est  itn 
despolisme  du  vice^  celiii-la  seroit-il  leseid,  que 
la  vide  de  Paris  ii  auroit  pas  pu  rewoerser  f'' 
Alirabeau  had  certainly  an  opportunity  to 
know,  from  his  own  experience,  how  difficult 
it  is  to  root  out  this  tyranny  from  the  mind, 
even  of  those  who  excel  all  others  by  their 
mental  faculties,  talents  and  energies.  Can 
such  a  concjuest  be  expected  from  a  depraved 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  259 

and  light  headed  people  ?  They  may  level 
bastiles  to  the  ground,  and  subvert  thrones. 
— There  will  always  be  some  miscreants 
among  them  ;  but  they  will  find  very  few 
who  will  teach  them  how  to  conquer  their 
own  sensuality,  their  passions,  and  lustful  de- 
sires. All  those  who  pretend  to  be  zealous  for 
the  general  good,  but  in  reality  only  think  of 
their  own  interest,  know  too  well  how  to 
avail  themselves  of  these  vices  :  Bonaparte 
understood  this  much  better  than  Charles 
Martel,  or  Richelieu. 

There  is  a  most  striking  similarity  between 
them.  The  character  of  Charles  Martel  is 
(h'awn  by  Alably  in  the  following  words  : 
"  C'ctoit  iin  hovime  qui  avoit,  touies  Ics  qualitcs 
de  I' esprit  dans  le  degi^e  Ic  plus  eminent  ;  son 
ambition  brillante^  audacieusc  et  sans  homes  nc 
a^aignait  auciui  peril.  Aussi  dur  et  inflexible 
f'nvtrs  ses  enemis,  que  gencreiix  et  prodigiie 
pour  ses  amisy  il  for^a  tout  le  monde  cL  rechcr- 
chcr  sa  protection.  Charles  Martel  ne  voulut 
vuriter  que  ramitie  de  ses  soldats,  et  se  Jit 


260  BONAPARTE 

craindre  de  tout  le  reste.  II  traita  les  Fran-' 
foi's  avec  line  extreme  diirete  j  it, fit  plus,  il  les 
mtprisa.  Ne  trouvant  partout  que  des  loix 
oubliees  ou  violees,  il  mit  a  leur  place  sa  vo- 
lofiie.  Sitr  d'etre  le  maitre,  taut  qiiil  aurait 
line  armee  ajfectionnce  a  son  service,  il  Ven- 
richit  sans  scrupide  des  depouilles  da  clerge. 
Charles  Martel  toujoiirs  victorieux  et  sfcr  de 
lajidiliti  de  son  armee,  regarda  les  capitaines 
qui  le  suivoient  comme  le  corps  enticr  de  la 
nation.^'* 

*  He  was  a  man  possessed,  in  the  highest  degree, 
of  all  mental  endowments.  His  brilliant,  daring,  and 
boundless  ambition,  dreaded  no  danger.  Hard  and 
inflexible  towards  his  enemies,  he  was  equally  gene- 
rous and  prodigal  to  his  friends.  He  forced  all  the 
world  to  court  his  protection.  Charles  Martel  sought 
only  to  merit  the  love  of  his  soldiers:  he  was  an  object 
of  terror  to  all  others.  He  ruled  the  French  with  a 
rod  of  iron  :  he  did  more — he  despised  them.  Find- 
ing on  all  sides  the  laws  slighted,  or  violated,  he  sub- 
stituted his  will  in  their  stead.  Sure  ef  being  master 
as  long  as  he  could  depend  on  the  attachment  of  his 
soldiers,  he  enriched  them,  without  any  scruple,  from, 
the  spoils  of  the  clergy.  The  ever  viclc;ious  Charles 
Martel,  confiding  in  the  fidelity  of  his  army,  looked 
on  the  captains  who  followed  him,  us  lac  whole  body 
of  the  nation. 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.        261 

The  same  author  also  draws  the  character  of 
Richelieu,  in  the  following  words  :  "  Dans  le 
moment  que  la  foiblesse  du  governement  ren- 
doit  tout  possible,  il  parut  dans  le  conseil  du 
roi  an  hommey  qui  s*e?i  etoit  oiwert  V entree,  par 
la  ruse,  la  fraude  et  V artifice,  mais  fait  pour 
dojuiner  par  d'autres  voies,  quand  son  credit 
seroit  affermi.  Richelieu  nc  avec  la  passion 
la  plus  immoderce  pour  gowverner,  n  avail  aii- 
cune  des  vertiis,  ni  meme  des  lumi^res,  qu'on 
doit  dcsirer  dans  ceux,  qui  sont  cl  la  tcte  des 
affaires  dhin  grand  roijaume  ;  il  avoit  cette 
hauteur  et  cette  infiexibiliti,  de  caractlre,  qui 
subjuguent  les  ames  communes,  et  qui  etomient 
et  lassent  ceux,  qui  nont  qxC  une  prudence  et 
un  courage  ordinaires.  II  employoit  les  mcmes 
moyens,  dont  les  rois  s'ctoient  servis  pour  dis- 
traire  la  nation  du  soin  de  ses  affaires  do7nes- 
tiqucs,  et  la  fa  Conner  (I  la  docilitemonarchique : 
Il  avilissoit  les  csprits,  en  les  occupant  de  ce 
que  les  arts,  les  sciences,  les  letters  et  le  com- 
merce out  de  plus  inutile  et  de  plus  attrayant. 
Son  luxe  conia^ieux  Jit  connoiire  de  nouveaux: 


262  BONAPARTK 

besoins  qui  ruinoient  les  grands  ;  forces  de 
mendier  des  favcurs  pour  italer  un  vainfastCy 
Us  se  preparoient  d.  la  servitude.  La  conta- 
gion fut  portee  dans  tous  les  ordres  de  Vetat ; 
des  hommes  ohscursfirent  aux  depcns  du  peu- 
pie  des  fortunes  scandaleuses  j  on  les  envia,  et 
V amour  de  Varment  ne  laissa  subsisier  aucune 
elevation  dans  les  dmes.  Capendant  Richelieu 
en  avilissant  la  nation  an  dedans,  la  Jaisoit 
respecter  au  dehors.  Plus  les  enircprises  du 
ministre  etoient  grandcs  et  dijficiles^  plus  it 
avoit  des  pretextes  pour  ne  se  soumettre  h  au- 
cune regie  et  gouverner  avec  un  sceptre  defer : 
le  besoin  de  Vetat  et  la  necessite  lui  scrvoient^ 
d^ excuse  auprls  des  Franpis,  qu'il  opprimoit. 
On  lie  fut  point  innocent,  quand  on  fut  soup- 
^onni  de  pouvoir  dcsobeir  d  ce  ministre  impe- 
rieux.  Repandant  d'une  main  les  bienfaits  et 
de  V autre  les  disgraces,  il  parut  plus  support- 
able d^etre  son  esclave  que  son  enncmi.  En 
s'emparant  de  la  justice  par  t  ctahlissement  des 
appels,  les  rois  s' etoient  rendus  legislateurs  ; 
enfaisantun  usage  arbitraire  de  iadniinistra- 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.      263 

tion  dc  ce tic  justice y  Richelieu  jugea  qu  ^il  sc 
rendroil  despotique.  Jl  intcrvertit  Cordre  de 
tons  Les  tribunaiLVy  it  ent  des  magistrals  tou- 
jour s  prits  H  scrvir  ses  passions.  Ce  que 
Machiavel  conscille  au  tyran  qu  ^il  instruit, 
Hichelicu  Vexicuta,  La  cour,  pleine  d*espious 
el  de  dclateurs  par  lesquels  Richelieu  voit  tout, 
entend  tout,  est  present  partout,  semble  tombce 
dans  la  Stupidite.  On  sent  le  danger  de  for- 
mer des  cabales  ;  tant  la  degradation  des  es- 
prits  est  grande,  et  le  poids  de  la  servitude  ac- 
cablant,  ce  iiest  plus  que  par  un  assassinat 
quon  songe  a  soriir  de  ^oppressions* 

*  At  the  moment  when  the  weakness  of  government 
rendered  every  attempt  possible,  there  appeared  in  the 
Kin'jj's council  a  mun  who  found  his  way  there  by  craft, 
fruud,  and  artifice  ;  but  capable  of  distinguishing  him- 
self by  different  qualities,  as  soon  as  his  power  should 
be  confirmed  :  This  was  no  other  than  Richelieu.  He 
was  born  with  a  most  immoderate  love  of  money.  He 
was  possessed  of  none  of  the  virtues,  nor  even  the 
qualities  desirable  in  those  at  the  head  of  a  mighty 
empire  :  he  had  that  haughtiness  and  inflexibility  of 
character  which  overcome  common  souls  ;  and  which 
astonish  and  weary    those  who  have  but  au  ordinary 


264  BONAPARTE 

The  similarity  of  character  between  Bona- 
parte and  Richelieu  is  most  striking ;  but  it 

share  of  prudence  and  courage.  He  used  the  same 
arts  practised  by  the  kings,  to  divert  the  nation  from 
their  attention  to  domestic  affairs,  and  to  fashion 
them  to  monarchical  docility.  He  kept  the  minds 
of  the  French  in  a  state  of  degradation,  in  fixing  them 
on  what  is  most  useless,  but  most  attractive,  in  the 
arts,  sciences,  letters,  and  commerce.  His  contagi- 
ous luxury  gave  birth  to  new  wants,  which  ruiaed  the 
great  ;  who,  forced  to  crave  favors,  in  order  to  dis- 
play empty  pageantry,  were  preparing  for  them- 
selves the  shackles  of  slavery.  This  baneful  pesti- 
lence pervaded  all  the  orders  of  the  state.  Men  born 
in  obscurity  scandalously  enriched  themselves  at  the 
expense  of  the  people  :  they  were  envied,  and  the 
love  of  money  smothered  every  generous  impulse. 
But,  whilst  Richelieu  suffered  the  nation  to  degrade 
itself  at  home,  he  caused  it  to  be  universally  respect- 
ed abroad.  The  more  the  enterprises  of  the  minis- 
ter were  splendid  and  difficult,  the  greater  was  his 
pretext  for  shaking  off  all  restraint,  and  governing 
the  nation  with  a  sceptre  of  iron.  Necessity  and  the 
wants  of  the  state  were  his  excuse  in  the  eyes  of  the 
French,  whom  he  thus  continually  oppressed  :  to  be 
suspected  of  disobedience  was,  in  the  opinion  of  this 
minister,  to  be  guilty.  Diffusing  benefits  with  one 
hand,  and  disgraces  with  the  other,  it  was  more  de- 
sirable to  be  his  slave  than  his  enemy.  In  fettering 
justice  by  the  cslablishmeat  of  appeals,  kings  were 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  265 
is  not  the  only  one.  The  French  at  these 
different  periods  are  in  their  disposition  and 
situation  equally  alike.  All  their  writers  of 
the  last  century,  from  Montesquieu  to  Mira- 
beau,  nay,  even  to  the  latest,  as  Necker, 
Riouffe,  Mounier,  Chenier,  represent  their 
own  nation  so  sadly  neglected  and  depraved, 
both  in  a  political  and  moral  point  of  view, 
tliat  neither  a  good  constitution,  nor  its  ob- 
servance ;  nor  a  lasting  and  consequent  re- 
sistance to  a  bad  one  forced  upon  them  j  nay, 
not  even  the  sufficient  publicity  of  sound  and 

become  legislators  ;  and  Richelieu,  in  the  arbitrary 
administration  of  that  justice,  aimed  at  becoming  des- 
potic. He  subverted  the  order  of  all  the  tribunals, 
and  the  magistrates  were  ever  found  subservient  to 
his  will.  What  Machiavel  advises  to  the  tyrant 
whom  he  instructed,  Richelieu  executed.  The  court 
which  was  full  of  spios  and  informers,  by  whose  dili- 
gence Richelieu  saw  and  heard  every  thing,  seemed 
falling  into  stupidity.  They  felt  the  danger  of  form- 
ing cabals.  So  degraded  was  the  genius  of  the 
Trench,  so  oppressive  was  the  weight  of  slavery,  that 
assassination  only  left  them  the  hope  of  freeing  them- 
selves from  bondage. 

z 


266  BONAPARTE 

sober  judgment  may  be  expected  from  tliem. 
Such  being  the  want  of  penetration  of  chis- 
ractcr,  of  social  and  moral  virtue  in  French- 
men, it  is  only  surprising,  that,  during  the  fif- 
teen years  of  the  revolutionary  commotions, 
not  one  man  has  risen  possessed  of  sufficient 
military  and  political  talents,  of  sufficient  ar- 
rogance, courage,  energy,  and  perseverance, 
to  make  himself  their  sole  master.    The  man 
who  can  acconiplisli  this  great  end,  must  not 
even  be  a  Frenchman.     It  is  as  if  the  old  na- 
tional vices  had  so  far  poisoned  and  enervated 
every  individual,  that  the  whole  country  will 
never  be  able  to  produce  one  single  man  en- 
dowed with  the  talents  requisite  to  attain  the 
supreme  dignity  ;  and  vet  such  an  one  sud- 
denly sprang  up  from  a  small,  inconsiderable 
natioi^,  whose  character  is  the  very  reverse 
of  the   Freiich.     This  nian,  during  his  short 
stav  ainoni!,'  them,  saw  them  undero;o  all  the 
vicissitiuk's   and  cljanu'cs  to   which    a  oreat 
nation  may  ever  be  exposed,     lie  watched 
theia  during  all  these  limes  of  commotion. 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.       257 
and  found  them  to  be  the  same  uninformed, 
tkithless,  light  headed,  cruel  nation,  without 
character,  as  both  ancient  and  modern  histor}' 
depicts  them.    I  le  profited  by  this  experience, 
Cicsar  and  Machiavcl,  whom  he  €(;nstantly 
s'auhed,    taught  him  tliat  tliis  people  might 
lia\e  courage  enough  to  make  a  furious  attack, 
]jut  tliat  they  liad  neither  energ}  nor  patience 
to  endure  with  fortitude  a  continued  opposi- 
tion, or  unavoidable  misfortunes.      He  was 
possessed  of  both ;  and  had,  moreover,  that 
daring  courage,   by  which  every  thing  may 
]je  obtained  from  this  weak  and  fickle;  people. 
lie  placed  himself  boldly  at  their  head  ;  he 
incessantly  led  them  to  attacks  and  victories; 
he  threw  out  baits  and  allurements  to  their 
interested  views  and  sensual  appetites.     Ea- 
gerly catching   and   swallowing  them,    they 
did  not  percei\  e  how  this  man,  confiding  in 
the  arm}',  now  gradually  seized  upon  every 
ci\ii  power.     W  by  chance  they   looked   up 
t)him;  if  tlie)   a])peared  to  listen,  then  he 


268  BONAPARTE 

flattered  their  vanity  with  specious,  hypocri- 
tical cant,  made  the  fairest  promises,  which 
he  never  intended  to  perform,  and  gave  them 
hopes  where  none  remained.  This  satisfied 
the  eager  multitude  :  this  pleased  the  vanity 
of  those,  who  are  ever  on  the  wing  to  catch 
at  more  than  they  have  either  sense  to  keep  or 
make  use  of.  Whatever  they  may  have  for- 
merly acquired,  they  must  now  surrender  it, 
for  the  preservation  of  his  power  and  security. 
He  understands  how  to  represent  these  fan- 
tises  to  them  as  resignations,  which  their  na- 
tional honor  and  safety  fully  demand.  Thus 
he  leads  them  on,  in  a  continual  giddy  round 
of  vain  expectations ;  and  like  a  poor,  but 
clever  dancing-master,  when  his  children  ask 
for  bread,  he  bids  them  dance.  He  is  watch- 
ful and  cunning  enough  to  satisfy  their  desire 
for  plunder  on  every  occasion,  and  his  con- 
duct towards  England  will  shew  this  most 
clearly  ;  but  first,  it  may  be  necessary  to  say 
H  few  words  on   his  treatment  of  Switzer- 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  269 
land.  The  fate  of  this  devoted  country  was  de- 
cided during  the  disputes  between  England 
and  France.  He  had  ordered  fifty-six  depu- 
ties from  the  Swiss  senate,  towns,  and  can- 
tons, to  Paris,  where  they  had  already  been 
several  months,  without  being  admitted  to 
his  presence,  to  deliberate  with  him.  The 
four  senators,  Barthelemy,  Roederer,  Fouche, 
and  Demeunier,  were  commissioned  by  Bo- 
naparte to  treat  v/ith  them,  to  hear  their  pro- 
posals, and,  if"  possible,  to  bring  them  to  a 
final  decision.  Yet  the  difference  of  opinion,^ 
continued  always  the  same  :  Many  of  the 
honest  Swiss  deputies  stood  firm  against  all 
the  arts  and  persuasions  of  Roederer  and 
Fouche. 

Bonaparte  therefore  ordered  ten  deputies 
to  be  chosen  from  a  select  committee,  who 
might  personally  confer  with  him  on  the  in- 
terest of  Switzerland.  He  expressly  com- 
manded that  five  democratic  and  five  aristo- 
cratic deputies  should  be  chrscn.    The  depu- 


270  BONAPARTE 

ties  were  not  a  little  embarrassed  hy  this 
command.  Nobody  could  wisli  to  be  Icokcd 
upon  as  either  of  the  two  ;  their  own  senti- 
ments and  their  instructions  stood  often  in 
contradiction  with  such  an  appellation.  Many 
deputies  of  former  democratic  states,  accord- 
ing to  their  instruction  and  their  own  private 
sentiments,  wished  for  several  aristocratic  mea- 
sures for  their  own  canton  :  with  other  depu- 
ties it  was  the  reverse.  Bonaparte,  like  a  good 
soldier,  insisted  on  a  plain,  une(j_uivocal  an- 
;,  jwer  ;  and  lie  was  not  to  be  denied.  Many 
of  the  most  courageous  and  eloquent  depu- 
ties, who  were  not  easily  influenced  orfri^lit- 
ened  into  submission,  were  excluded  by  the 
manoeuvre  of  tliis  committee. 

A  conference  between  Bonaparte  and  the 
select  committee  took  place.  The  active  .se- 
nators wrote  dou  n  the  pretended  resolutions, 
made  a  constitution  for  all  the  Swiss  cantons, 
and  he  delivered  it  on  the  nineteenth  of  Fe- 
bruary to  the  ten  deputies,  commanding  them 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  271 
to  comply  witli  it.  lie  was  s^)  modest  as  to 
call  this  bestow  iiif^  of  a  blessed  constitution 
on  the  Swiss,  onlv  an  act  of  mediation.  The 
sc\eial  and  distinct  forms  of  government 
which  Bunapartc  ga\e  to  the  difterent  Swiss 
ciuitc^ns  ;  the  act  of  federation,  by  which  they 
were  to  be  united  in  one  body.  The  special 
usages,  customs,  and  forms  to  be  observ  c-d ; 
the  li(|uidation  of  all  debts  contracted  by  the 
Sv\iss  during  the  revolution,  and  the  appli- 
cation of  the  national  property,  were  likewise 
settled  by  this  act  of  mediation. 

Bona}. arte,  who  has  done  greater  harm  to 
the  honest  Sw  iss  than  any  man  ;  who  has 
brought  them  to  the  blink  of  the  precipice ; 
A\  ho  has  rendered  them,  for  centuries,  unable 
to  })"!eser\e  and  defend  themselves  by  tiieir 
ou  ji  means  ;  had  the  impudence  to  address 
them,  in  the  })rt,lace  of  his  act  of  mediation, 
in  tlie  following  terms  : — "  I' Ilelvclla,  en 
pnnc  aux  dissensions  doit  incnacte  dc  disso- 
lulion  ;  tile  nc  ponioit  troirjcr  en  tile  mCmc 
Us  nunicns  dc   se   rt'ccnstilucr.      L'ancicnw 


ar«  BONAPARTE 

affection  de  la  nation  Fj^ancoise  pour  ce  pcxi' 
pie  recommandable,  qu*  elle  a  ricemment  de- 
fendu  par  ses  armeSy  etfait  reconnoitre  com- 
me  puissance,  par  ses  traites  ;  V inter et  de  la 
France  et  de  la  republique  Italienne,  dont  la 
Suisse  couvre  les  frontieres  ;  la  demande  du 
'tcnaty  celle  des  cantons  dcmocratiques,  le  voeu 
du  peuple  entier,  nous  ontfait  un  devoir  d^in- 
terposer  notre  mediatioii  entre  les  parties,  qui 
le  divisent,  ^Cc* 

He  named  also,  by  this  act,  the  canton 
which  was  to  have  the  directorial  power  for 
the  year   1803  ;     and  fixed  upon  Freburg, 


*  Helvetia,  a  prey  to  dissensions,  was  menaced  with 
approaching  dissolution.  It  did  not  possess  in  itself 
the  means  of  renovation.  The  ancient  affection  of 
France  for  that  respectable  people  whom,  she  has  late- 
ly defended  with  her  arms,  and  caused  to  be  acknow- 
ledged by  her  treaties,  as  an  independent  state  ;  the 
interest  of  the  French  and  the  Italian  republics,  whose 
frontiers  are  limited  by  Switzerland  ;  the  request  of 
the  senate  and  the  democratic  cantons,  and  the  voice 
of  the  whole  nation  have  imposed  on  us  the  duty  of 
mediating  between  the  parties  by  which  it  is  divided. 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  273 
where  he  appointed  the  Count  d'Atlry  as 
Landaman.  This  is  the  same  man  who  for- 
merly ser\'ed  in  France,  where  he  had  the 
command  of  the  royal  Swiss  guards.  On  the 
tenth  of  xVugust,  when  these  bra\  e  and  loyal 
men  defended  their  unfortunate  master  and 
the  royal  palace  against  the  fury  of  the  po- 
pulace, and  were  mortally  massacred,  he  did 
not  command  them.  lie  went  afterwards 
before  the  convention,  and  to  save  his  own 
life,  declared  that  he  did  not  head  the  Swiss 
on  that  day,  thougli  the  queen  had  very  much 
pressed  him  to  do  so  the  day  before,  to  pro- 
tect the  king  and  the  royal  family  against  the 
furious  Parisian  populace.  Tiie  savage  mon- 
sters in  the  convention  v.ere  rejoiced  at  this 
deposition,  as  lliey  found  some  ground  on 
which  they  mi^;iii  build  the  accusation  of  the 
queen,  whose  death  they  had  vowed.  They 
pardoned  the  hoary  traitor.  He  seems  to 
make  a  very  good  use  of  his  fortunate  escape 
for  the  b.cnetit  of  his  pious  countrymen,  lie 
A  9 


274  BONAPARTE 

lately  supplicated  the  Pope  in  a  very  devowt 
letter,  to  extend  the  blessings  of  his  protection 
to  the  Swiss.  His  Holiness  never  shuts  his 
ears  against  the  earnest  prayers  of  true  be- 
lievers ;  he  has  therefore  bestowed  his  paterna} 
blessings  and  protection  on  the  humble  Swiss  -, 
and  nuns,  and  monks,  and  brevets  and  bulls 
out  of  number  have  been  issued  to  prevent 
the  circulation  of  dangerous  heretical  books, 
and  to  promote  chastity  :  such  have  been  the 
precious  tokens  of  papal  benignity. 

To  save  all  farther  trouble  to  the  Swiss, 
who  certainly  were  unable  to  help  themselves, 
the  presidents  of  all  the  nineteen  committees 
who  were  to  introduce  the  new  constitution 
jnto  their  respective  cantons,  and  provisi-  nally 
to  govern,  were  appointed  also  by  the  equally 
benign  Bonaparte.  Nobody  will  be  surprised 
that  not  one  single  individual,  of  those  Swiss, 
who  had  distinguisl;ed  themselves,  in  the  lat- 
ter years,  as  zealous  and  patriotic  defenders 
of  their  ancient  liberty,  was  included  in  the 
number. 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.     275 

The  con>;iilar  regulation  concerning  tiie 
debts  which  the  Swi.s  had  contracted,  begins 
also  with  an  order  by  which  the  restitution  of 
all  estates,  formerly  belonging  to  convents,  is 
strictly  commanded. 

A  solemn  promise  was  made  at  the  same 

time,  that  all  French  troops  should  evacuate 

Switzerland,  as  soon  as  the  new  constitution 

could  be  introduced  and  settled.     A  year  has 

now  elapsed  since  this  has  been  done,  and  the 

French  troops  are  still  there.    It  is  a  question, 

whether  their  removal  be  desirable  for  most  rf 

the  cantons.     No  good  has  resulted  from  the 

new  constitution,  which  many  were  in  hopes 

would  in  some  measure  restore  tranquillity. 

None  had  reason  to  be  so  satisfied,  as  to  think 

the  country  much  benefited.     The  discontent 

and  fermentation  are  greater  than  ever ;  and 

the  poor,  honest,  though  passionate  Swiss,  who 

probably  do  not  penetrate  the  final  views  of 

Bonaparte,  are  every  moment  exposed  to  tiie 

sad  aiternative  of  either  inconsiderately  t]ym^ 


276  BONAPARTE 

to  arms,  or  running  the  risk  of  falling  into 
the  snare  laid  for  them,  even  sooner  than  Bo- 
naparte liimself  may  expcet.  Switzerland, 
thus  shackled,  degraded,  and  oppressed,  be- 
comes, for  an  attentive  observer  of  Bonaparte's 
usurpation  and  rigid  aggrandizement,  an  ob- 
ject of  serious  reflection  ;  us  those  unjustifiable 
measures  may  be  the  forerunners  of  similar 
attempts  in  future. 

Having  fmished  with  the  Swiss,  he  now 
tried  his  strength  on  the  English  ambassador. 
Private  interviews,  amicable  jests,  airs  of  fa- 
miliarity, confidential  insinuations — all  his  arts 
were  employed  :  but  after  some  private  con- 
ferences with  Lord  AVhitworth,  regularly  })re- 
ccded  by  private  consultations  between  the 
latter  and  the  R  ussian,  Prussian,  and  other  am- 
l>assadors  with  Talleyrand  ;  after  having  in 
vain  exiiausted  all  his  powers,  and  at  last  all 
his  insolence,  witli  the  immovable  Englishman, 
the  First  Consul  must  have  been  convinced 
that  England  wished  for  war  3  as  she  really  was 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  277 
ashamed  ol"  the  disadvantageous  peace  she  had 
conchided.  Pier  object  was  to  put  a  stop  to  Bo- 
naparte's hostile  preparations,  and  tliwart  his 
too  incautious  plans  of  aggrandizement.  Me- 
diations could  certainly  be  of  no  a\ail,  and  yet 
he  ver\-  anxiously  wished  for  the  interference 
of  the  Russian  and  Prussian  courts.  He  sent 
his  fa\urite  Duroc  to  Berlin,  with  proposals, 
which  had  nothing  less  in  view,  than  the  total 
destruction  of  England — his  last  and  principal 
opponent  in  Europe.-  If  Duroc  succeeded  in 
disposing  tlie  Prussian  court  in  favor  of  Bona- 
parte's designs,  as  far  as  he  should  think  it 
proper  to  acquaint  the  Prussian  cabinet  with 
tlieni — if  he  could  prevail  upon  the  King  of 
Prussia  to  take  an  active  part  in  the  war 
against  England,  he  was  tlicn  to  proceed  to 
Petcrsburgh,  in  order  to  accornphsh  his  mis- 
sion :  but  General  Duroc  soon  returned  from 
Berlin.  The  Prussian  court  looked  upon  the 
present  (Hspute  as  a  matter  which  concerned 
England  and  Erancc  alone ;  as  the  English 


2/8  BONAPARTE 

ambassador  had  often  justly  complained  of  the 
little  observance  of  some  articles  in  the  treaty 
on  the  part  of  France,  and  her  eagerness  for 
conquest.  This,  also,  was  most  probably 
mentioned  to  the  favorite  emissary,  though  he 
was  dismissed  with  the  most  obliging  assur- 
ances of  friendship  towards  the  First  Consul, 
after  having  himself  experienced  the  most  po- 
lite treatment  and  personal  respect. 

Bonaparte  now  seeing  himself  involved  in  a 
war  with  England,  sooner  than  lie  had  first 
intended,  would  v/illingly  have  induced  all 
Europe,  if  possible,  to  share  In  the  contest  : 
but  the  prudent  and  moderate  answers  of  the 
two  northern  courts  soon  convinced  him  that 
he  had  not  with  foreign  powers  that  influence 
he  perhaps  imagined.  He  must  also  perceive 
that  other  nations  had  by  no  means  that 
contemptible  opinion  of  England  and  its  in- 
ternal state,  which  he  had  too  clearly  mani- 
fested, by  his  contemptuous  behaviour  since 
the  disadvantageous  treaty  of  peace,  v\'hich  he 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.      Z79 
had  so  easily  obtained.     He  must  also  find, 
that  their  opinion  of  England  and  his  were 
widely  ditlerent :  they  did  not  think  that  she 
was  unab'e  henceforth  to  meddle  with  the 
aflairs  of  the  continent,  or  too  far  humbled 
ever  to  ihcrisli  such  a  presumption.     On  the 
contrar),  tiiese  courts  must  have  become  a  lit* 
tie  more  cautious  by  his  own  conduct  towards 
England  j  and  much  more  so  by  his  insidious 
proposals,  his  unbounded  arrogance,  and  im- 
moderate ambition  ^  however  fair  and  polite 
his  words  and  promises  were,  by  which  he 
thought  rulers  might  be  flattered  and  ensnared. 
His  overbearing  deportment  towards  England, 
by  which  he  very  imprudently  roused  her  na- 
tional pride,  proved  highly  offensive  to  those 
so\ ereigns  wiio  thought  themselves  connected 
and  allied  with  the  English  court,  by  difl'ereiit 
tics  from  those  (f  the  First  Consul,  splendid 
as  his  successes  may  have  been. 

AVlien  Bonaparte  now  saw  that  the  English 
wert  in  earnest,  he  left  nothijug  untried  to  re- 


280  BONAPARTE 

tain  the  English  ambassador  at  Paris ;  and  af- 
ter having  failed  in  his  attempts,  he  still  con- 
tinued to  apply  for  the  mediation  of  these 
courts,  to  avert  if  possible  the  renewal  of  hos- 
tilities. 

The  Russian  Ambassador  was  at  this  time 
suspected  of  not  having  sufficiently  exerted 
himself,  before  the  departure  cf  Lord  Whit- 
worth,  in  executing  the  instructions  of  his 
mast^j'  iU  the  oiler  of  iiis  meduuion.  Its 
fill  are  drew  upon  him  the.  rudeness  and  arro- 
gance of  Bonaparte  ;  but  the  Emperor  justly 
resenting  such  insolence,  immediately  recalled 
his  ambassador,  Avho  on  taking  leave,  with  no- 
ble firmness  said  to  the  Chief  Consul,  That  his 
sole  riinbilion  was  to  obtain  the  approbation 
of  his  emperor,  and  that  he  gloried  in  saying 
that  he  had  bucceeded.  lie  did  not  exj)i ess  a 
"wish  ihr  his  approbation,  nor  did  he  numifest 
the  leasl  fear  of  his  displeasure.  Many  am- 
bassad,;r,s  at  Paiis  vvould  not  have  dared  to 
display  sucii  nuignauiniity. 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.       281 
Whilst  Bonaparte  was  craving  tije  incxiia- 
tion  of  Russia,  lie  obtained  tiie  promise  I'roni 
the  Prussian  court,  that  it  would  not  interlere 
in  the  protection  ofthe Hanoverian  dominions; 
in  return,  he  guaranteed  the  security  of  the 
Prussian  dominions  ;    tiiis  surely  e-.;bld  be  of 
little  use  to  a  power,    that   lias   more   than 
ij!00,000  excellent  troops,  ready  to  march  at 
a  moment's  notice.      lie  a\ailed  himsch  cf 
the,>5e  modest  and  })caceful  sentiments,  to  the 
benefit  of  his  arm}',  and  the  replenii-Li ng  of 
liis  treasury. 

He  immediately  sent  about  20,000  men, 
the  half  ef  wh'.m  were  scarcely  clothed  and 
mounted.  The  general,  at  their  head,  ml:^t 
ha\e  been  vevy  sure  not  to  meet  with  any 
resistance,  as  most  of  his  troops  who  fir^t 
reached  the  Hanoverian  dominions,  were  en- 
tirely nnprovided  witli  artillery  and  ammuni- 
tion. To  the  astonishment  of  ail  Germanv, 
to  tlie  no  less  great  surprise  of  the  French 
soldiers  themselves,  v. ho,  also,  knew  the  bra- 

V.  O 


282  BONAPARTE 

very  of  the  Hanoverian  troops,  who,  with  their 
own  eyes,  saw  the  excellent  state  of  their  dis- 
cipline j  the  whole  Hanoverian  army  ;  all  the 
Hanoverian  artillery  and  ordnance ;  all  their 
rich  stores ;    all  the  royal  property  was  de- 
livered up,    without  striking  a  single  blow. 
Tiie  French  troops  were  ne\v  clothed,  from 
Hanoverian  manufactures,  and  were  mounted 
by  their  horses.     A  number  of  the  best,  out 
of  the  royal  stud,  and  in  the  country,  ^vere 
sent  to  Bonaparte,  for  his  family  and  consular 
guards  ;  and  as  if  the  poor  Hanoverian  inha- 
bitants,   who   had    nothing  to  do  with  the 
quarrels  and  disputes  between  England  and 
France,  the  innocent  spectators  of  all  these 
troubles,  as  if  they  were  not  sufficiently  op- 
pressed by  the  French,    were  compelled  to 
catch  a  number  of  stags  ali\'e,  and  to  carry 
them  in  large  waggons,  with  six  horses,  to 
Paris,  for  the  park  of  Madame  Bonaparte. 

The  Flanovcrian  ordnance  was  forwartled 
with  such  rapidity  to  France,  that  the  guns. 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  283 
too  heavy  lo  be  transported,  were  literally 
sawed  tli rough,  and  dispatched  in  pieces,  to 
be  rr-fbunded  there. 

Though  the  public  proclamations,  and  the 
oflicial  Parisian  newspapers  asserted,  that  this 
country  and  its  army  had  been  only  taken  in 
trust,  in  order  to  withdraw  from  the  enemy 
a  reinforcement  of  troops,  and  an  addition 
to  his  revenue  ;  though  this  country  had  been 
spontaneously  given  up  by  its  states,  to  se- 
cure it  against  the  treatment  usual  in  such 
cases,  it  was,  nevertheless,  treated  with  the 
accustomed  rapaciousness,  and  is  now  obliged 
to  raise  increased  pay  for  the  enemy's  troops ; 
yet,  the  soldier  only  receives  a  third  part  of 
it,  and  the  ofiicers  nothing  at  all.     The  sur- 
plus, as  well  as  all  ready  money  arising  from 
other  exactions,    goes   into   the  treasury  of 
France,  independently  of  which,  officers  and 
soldiers  must    be   Ibund  in   board,   lodging, 
and  every  other  necessary,  by  the  citizens 


284  BONAPARTE 

and  peasants.     All  movable  articles,  ol"  any 
use  to  tije  French,  were  carried  off. 

The  troops  are  continnaily  exchanged.  Af- 
ter having  been  clothed  and  mounted,  they 
are  sent  home,  and  other  troops  replace  them, 
who  'ire  to  be  clothed,  and  mounted  also. 
T;;is  will  certainly  last  as  long  as  Hanover 
can  continue  to  provide  tisem  with  clothes, 
leather,  horses,  t-.c.  As  it  is,  howe\er,  unaljle 
any  lonp'^r  to  raise  the  nionty  required,  by 
the  French,  the  Hanoverian  dominions  are 
already  oilered  in  pledge,  to  contract  loans, 
and  tlie  neighbouring  imperial  towns  are  in- 
sulted with  proposals  to  that  eilect. 

'J^lie  Fiench  generals,  and  commissaries, 
liave  take  n  possession  of  the  royal  palaces,  and 
the  houses  of  the  fugiiive  fathers  of  the  coun- 
try ;  ih'.-y  lead  tijcre  a  most  inxurious  and 
prodigal  ii/i  ,  and  all  at  the  exjience  of  the 
unr(7ri;inate  inhabitants.  Tliey  celebrate  their 
republican  and  despotic  anniversaries  alter- 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  285 
iiatcly,  and  with  tlie  most  petulant  ostenta- 
tion ;  treating  the  poor  Hanoverians  with 
marked  c  iitempt.  They  sent  for  their  wives, 
mistresses,  children,  &c.  &c.  in  order  to  have 
tljem  fattened,  and  enriched  on  this  devoted 
soil. 

This  happy  destiny,  for  one  part  of  the 
French  troo})s,  has  had  the  effect  of  tranquil- 
lising  the  whole  army.  The  soldiers,  in  gene- 
ral, are  so  sparingly  kept,  in  their  garrisons, 
that  they  would  inevitably  starve,  if  their 
cliiefs  did  not  discover  ways  and  means,  by 
obtaining  for  them  small  parcels  of  land,  to 
cultivate  potatoes  and  turnips.  The  soldiery 
\ie\v  these  depredations  on  the  domains  of  the 
king  cf  England,  in  Germany,  as  the  prelude 
to  that  long  promised,  grand,  and  famous 
achievement,  viz.  the  invasion  and  plunder 
of  Great  Biitain.  This  reconciles  them  to  the 
hard  fare  which  they  extort  from  the  Dutch 
and  Low-countrymen,  who  are  already  over- 
whelmed by"   their    burthen,    and  see   their 


286  BONAPARTE 

own  countrymen  starve  on  the  coast,  whilst 
they  are  compelled  to  give  up  every  thing  to 
strangers.  Another,  equally  numerous,  divi- 
sion of  the  French  arm\',  Avhich  was  intended 
for  the  happier  elimes  of  Asia,  and  Egypt, 
make  shift,  for  the  present,  with  what  the 
Neapolitans  are  able  to  alibrd;  and  wait  there 
the  grand  future  events,  which  may,  perhaps, 
end  in  the  final  expulsion  of  the  Turks  from 
Europe  and  Egypt. 

The  Hanoverians,  though  they  may  greatly 
lose  in  property,  in  health,  and  ui  long  life, 
find,  at  least,  an  opportunity  of  becoming  bet- 
ter informed  of  the  real  French  character,  and 
its  despotic  chief  A  Frenchman  is  an  incon- 
siderate, often  times,  a  wellmeaning  and  pas- 
sionate talker,  and  it  will  ease  him  greatly  if, 
after  three  years  silence,  he  can  speak  his 
mind.  What  the  soldiers  now  loudly,  and  with- 
out exception,  express  on  their  situation,  on 
the  doubts  and  fears,  with  ;\  hich  they  marched 
against  the  respectable,  well  provided,  Hano- 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  287 
V  oriaii  troops ;  on  the  robberies  and  imposi- 
tions of  their  leaders,  commissaries,  and  place- 
)nen  -,  on  the  despotism  of  their  consul,  wiio 
is  guuided  like  tlie  grand  Sultan ;  on  the  ar- 
rogance and  haughtiness  of  his  ministers,  and 
council  j  all  tliis  will  give  the  inhabitants  a 
much  better  idea  of  this  eountiy,  of  the  state 
of  tile  rrench  arnn  ,  and  its  government,  than 
the\ ,  perhaps,  had,  when  Hke  other  individu- 
als, \\  ho  were  disgusted  at  the  oppression  of 
their  government,  they,  by  no  means,  locked 
with  displeasure  upon  the  approach  of  French 
troops. 

There  is  not,  poihaps,  one  Hanoverian  to 
be  found  at  present,  v*  ho  would  not  look  upon 
the  departure  of  the  French,  and  the  restora- 
tion of  ills  government,  as  1  he  greatest  bless- 
ing .;  though  before  he  might  not  have  been  so 
■^ery  anxious  lor  the  persons  who  formed  the 
n  goncy.  There  is  hardly  any  one  amongst 
tliem  who  would  not  expose  his  life,  rather 
than  see  iiis  native  land  gradually  perish  by 


288  BONAPARTE 

this  slow  mode  of  execution.  Probably  they 
would  have  met  with  timely  aid  from  the 
neighbouring  countries,  if  they  had  f jUowed 
their  first  impulse,  and  made  a  noble  stand 
against  the  troops  who  were  collecting  in  the 
neighbourhood,  and  undoubtedly  for  some- 
thing better  than  the  mere  amusement  of  the 
regent.  The  anger  of  some  neighbours  on  the 
awkward  undignified  conduct  of  the  Hano- 
verian regency,  for  which  an  ungenerous  re- 
venge is  certainly  taken  on  the  innocent  peo- 
ple, would  have  cooled  :  their  own  interest 
would  have  induced  them  to  consider  what 
might  be  the  consequences  if  a  ncighboui'ing 
state,  which  had  to  claim  the  protection  of 
the  German  empire,  meanly  yielded,  and  be- 
came a  sacrifice  to  the  superior  power  of  a 
cruel  and  rapacious  enemy.  These  neighbours 
must  now  see  already  to  their  sorrow,  tiiat  tiie 
conduct  of  the  French  go\  eminent  does  not 
answer  their  ill-placed  confidence.  God  for- 
bid that   Bonaparte   should   give  them  still 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.     289 

greater  causes  of  (lissatisfaction  ;  but  oi"  all  tlK3 
attempts  tliat  ever  entered  the  mind  ofadespot 
none  appear  too  great  for  this  consul.  He  is  of 
a  restless  disposition  and  ever  inclined  to  grasp 
at  more.  His  heroic  and  encroachinj?  charac- 
ter  will  make  him  pursue  what  other  men  be- 
fore liim,  only  wished  to  obtain.  1  Ic  will  hardly 
follow  the  steps  of  Charlemagns,  who  always 
kept  up  his  constitution  at  home,  and  would 
never  infringe  tlie  rights  and  government  of 
other  countries,  though  he  was  always  most 
successful  in  his  enterprises.  He  will  rather 
imitate  Charles  V.  or  Louis  XIV  ^  v.iththe 
exception  of  liis  military  qualities,  he  very 
mucii  resembles  the  former.  Charles  the  fifth 
was  no  hero.  The  picture  which  has  been 
drawn  of  this  monarch,  by  one  of  the  greatest 
historians,  exactly  suit's  Bonaparte.  "  This  em- 
"  peror,  ever  on  the  watch,  was  more  active  than 
"  could  be  expected  from  his  weak  constitu- 
"  tion  ;  as  lie  possessed  more  of  the  statesman 
"  than  of  the  hero,  he  was  always  tlie  more  cau- 
c  2 


290  BONAPARTE 

"  tious  the  more  doubtful  his  object ;  as  he  wag 
"  himself  an  adopt  in  dissimulation,  he  did  not 
"  trust  others  ;  his  combinations  were  just  as 
"  long  as  he  kept  himself  cool ;  he  was  simple 
"  in  his  manner  of  living,   and  not  without 
"  aflabihty  in  his  outward  deportment."     He 
made  the  welfare  of  the  roman  catholic  church 
apretence  to  pursue  his  private  plans  against  the 
protestants — Charles  betrayed  his  character. — 
Conternpt  of  mankind  is  the  tme  criterion  of 
despots.     They  abound  hi  words  ;  pride  and 
arrogance,  defiance  and  scorn  are  the  means  by 
which  they  endeavour  to  command  esteem. 
Charles  shewed  too  early  his  disdain  for  the 
states  of  Germany. — Though  America  v\'as 
plundered  duringhis  reign,  he  often  felt  the  want 
of  money.  His  armies  exacted  their  pay  liom 
foes,  extorted  it  from  friends.  The  suppression 
ofgenius^and  compulsion  in  all  its  drcar}^  forms 
were  his  continual  aim.     Craftiness  A\as  his 
cliief  quality.  His  countenance  never  betrayed 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.       291 

the  sentiments  of  his  lieart,  and  soft  persuasion 
ever  flowed  from  his  smooth  tongue. 

If  this  second  Charles,  this  active,  cautious, 
mistrusting,  well-combining,  simple,  popular, 
despotic,  haughty,  proud,  scornful,  and  deceit- 
ilil  tyrant,  who  is  versed  in  dissimulation,  who 
<lcals  in  fair  words,  whofavours  the  roman  catho- 
lics, who  makes  both-friends  and  foes  pay  for  his 
troops,  though  Europe  and  Africa  have  been 
plundered  by  him,  who  makes  suppression  of 
genius,  and  compulsion  in  all  forms,  his  study, 
whose  chief  trait  is  duplicity,  in  whose  coun- 
tenance nothing  speaks,  but  his  tongue  softly 
vibrates  on  the  ear. 

If  this  modern  Charles,  who  possesses  the 
lustre  of  a  hero,  whicli  the  other  wanted  ;  if  he 
should  now  come  forth  against  Germany,  with 
his  plan  of  an  universal  monarchy — will  there 
be  found  a  second  Alaurice  of  Saxony  to  sub- 
vert it  ? 

The  right  moment  of  resistance  had  been 
*>uirered  to  escape  in  tiiosc  ancient  times :  Yet 


292  BONAPARTE 

the  consolatory  truth,  that  superiority  of  power 
and  cunning  will  wreck  on  the  rock  of  flaming 
patriotism,  and  the  manly  energies  of  a  people 
struggling  for  their  liberty,  remains.  The 
Smalkaldian  b  nd  was  signed,  and  its  objects 
were  carried  with  patriotic  zeal. 

If  Bonaparte,  like  Louis  XIV.  should  have 
it  in  view  to  possess  a  state  of  the  German  em- 
pire, why  should  it  be  thought  impossible,  asthe 
king  of  England  has  had  one  for  the  last  centu- 
ry ? — If  he  project  this,  and  purpose  drawing 
all  the  smaller  states  into  his  interest,  to  take 
them  under  his  protection,  and  tluis  to  weaken 
the  whole  body,  and  to  govern  hi  Germany  as 
lie  does  in  Italy — will  there  be  another  Philip 
of  Mentz,to  rise  and  join  all  the  princes  of  Ger- 
many into  one  general  defensive  alliance  ? — 
Will  iic  be  able  to  unite  the  jarring  interests  of 
such  jealous  neighbours  ?  When  this  noble  and 
patriotic'  elector  planned  the  grand  confede- 
racy, two  ministers  of  important  powers  made 
([uite  contradictory  remonstrances.    Many  oi* 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.      298 

ilie  princes  of  the  empire  were  already  in  the 
habit  of  looking  only  for  their  security  to 
France,  Even  at  that  perio^l,  not  one  of  the 
powers  in  Germany  could  singly  resist  Louis, 
wlio  was  master  of  tlie  finest  empire  ;  who 
called  forth  all  his  energies  to  render  liimself 
the  legislator  for  kii^r^s  awl  republics  ;  yet  the 
general  alliance  was  cavried. 

Germany  has  often  been  sa\  cd  by  the  power- 
ful unioFi  f)f  Its  princjs,  against  Spain,  Austria, 
and  France  ;  but  there  never  wiis  a  time,  when 
the  empire  wanted  a  g.'iieral  aliiance  of  its 
princes  more  than  at  the  present  conjuncture, 
if  France  should  not  weaken  itself  by  its  spirit 
of  revenge  on  England,  and  its  projects  of  con- 
quests in  Asia  and  Africa.  To  prepare  this  al- 
liance, it  is  the  duty  of  ah  protestant  northern 
states  to  insist  upon  the  <nacuation  of  the  Ha- 
jioverian  territory,  whose  scizire  the  states  of 
the  German  empire  shoidd  never  have  permit- 
ted.   If  the  emperor  x\lcAander  succeed  in  his 


294  BONAPARTE 

mediation,  tlioii  Germany,  and  particularly 
the  protestant  part,  will  owe  Irm  greater 
thanks,  than  e\  en  the  king  of  Great  Britain  ; 
and  the  former  may  rejoice  for  the  first  time 
ii>11iaving  obtained  the  support  of  Russia. 

A  great  weight  would  be  given  to  a  general 
alliance  of  all  the  northern  German  Sovereigns, 
by  the  accession  of  the  noble-minded  Alexan- 
der.— Bonoparte  has  done  much  to  render  such 
an  alliance  more  powerful,  by  imprudently  de- 
stroying all  the  ecclesiastical  states,  and  ag- 
grandizing the  Protestant  electors.  German 
princes  will  certainly  not  be  so  lost  to  them- 
selves, and  to  their  country,  as  to  believe  that 
they  are  bound  so  to  sacrifice  their  own  and  their 
subjects'  welfare,  as  to  become  the  vassals  of 
France,  or  to  neglect  the  interest  of  the  whole 
Gemianic  Empire  and  their  northern  allies,  to 
please  the  arbitrary  robber,  and  by  increasing 
their  territory,  cause  them  to  be  listless  spec- 
tators of  the  ruin  of  their  neighbours. 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  295 
If  they  were,  may  the  example  of  the  great 
model  for  ail  German  Princes,  may  the  ef- 
forts of  the  great  Frederic  of  Prussia  serve 
them  as  a  guide.  I  lis  active  zeal  in  creating 
the  last  union,  which  was  too  soon  dissolved,  is 
before  their  eyes.  If,  ])ei"ore  his  penetrating 
looks,  it  could  have  ever  come  to  this,  he,  the 
great,  disinterested,  and  resolute  Prince,  would 
now  luidoubtedly  resign  e\  cry  quiet  and  per- 
sonal enjoyment  for  the  sake  of  public  safety. 
He  would  call  upon  all  German  Princes,  with 
patriotic  enthusiasm,  to  stand  forward  in  their 
own  defence. 

*'  Malheureux  !  vous  creusez  dcs  gouffres 
sous  \  OS  pas  j 

"  Vous  leur  payerez  cher  leurfuneste  assis- 
tance : 

*'  Ces  supci  bes  tyrans  mtrus  dans  vos  etats, 

"  Vous  com[)teut  asservir  sous  leur  obeis- 
sancc. 


296  BONAPARTE 

"  Que  leiirs  dangereux  essaims, 
"  Vous  feront  verscr  de  larmcs  ! 
"  Vos  mains  aiguiscnt  les  armes 
**  De  CCS  perfides  voisins.* 

The  example  of  this  great  prc^moter  of  gen- 
uine civil  liberty,  and  of  the  only  possible 
equality,  namely  the  equality  of  law ;  this 
friend  to  moral  hght,is  still  looked  upon  and  fol- 
lowed as  a  pattern  b)  his  nephew,  ^\ith  the  best 
and  purest  zeal.  Shall  this  great  and  generous 
resolution,  to  support  the  independence,  and  the 
rights  of  Germany,  in  wljich  his  great  ancestor 
has  given  so  glorious  an  example,  shall  it  not  be 
imitated  by  this  noble  successor?  Yes  !  he  can- 
not sufier,  that  the  light  which  beneficially  shone 
on  his  countrymen,  should  be  taken  from  them 

*  Unhappy  victims !  you  are  running  headlong  to 
destruction.  Those  proud  tyrants,  once  in  your  ter- 
ritories, Avill  make  you  i^roan  under  their  yoke  ;  you 
will  rue  their  fatal  assistance.  What  tears  will  their 
barbarous  hordes  cause  you  lo  shed.  Your  hands  are 
sharpeningthe  weapons  of  th.ose  pcrftdious  neighbours. 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  297 
by  their  despotic  neighbour.  He,  the  great 
friend  of  learning,  and  the  carefid  reformer  of 
pubhc  schools  in  his  dominions,  will  not  suffer 
that  the  declared  enemy  of  knowledge  and 
truth,  who  orders  only  one  book  throughout 
bis  vast  empire,  for  all  the  schools,  should 
now  spread  desolation  and  barbarity  over  the 
German  soil,  where  learning  and  sciences, 
deserted  from  France,  have  now  found  an 
asylum. 

The  assertion  of  the  inferiority  of  the  French 
to  the  Germans,  in  knowledge,  learning,  and 
judgment,  may  perhaps,  surprise  those,  who 
know  the  French  only  from  the  w'orks  of  their 
most  celebrated  writers;  but  it  will  not  astonish 
those,  who  have  lived  for  some  time  in  France. 
It  cannot  have  escaped  the  latter,  that  the 
seemingly  better  informed  people  there  exhibit 
only  a  culti\ation  and  refinement  in  luxury, 
and  are  not  possessed  of  that  sound  and  sober 
judgment,  nor  that  well  informed  mind,  which 
is  the  touchstone  of  genuine  knowledge.  It 
D  2 


298  BONAPARTE 

well  applies  to  them,  what  our  countryman 
Aloser  said,  sixteen  years  ago,  when  the  rage 
of  French  governors  and  governesses,  for  the 
education  of  children  in  Germany,  had  spread 
far  and  wide,  and  the  sentimental  romances 
of  France  were  looked  upon  as  the  best  sources 
of  every  accomplishment. 

"This  new  method  of  education,"  says  Mo- 
ser,    "  will  teach    them  perhaps   to  cut  out 
frills  and  fringes,  but  it  is  the  most  ridiculous 
fjlly  to  prefer  mere  vain  parade  to  real  use. 
Where  luxury  is  founded  upon  affluence,  it  is 
proper,  and  can  be  of  service  to  the  state  ;  but 
where  it  is  sought,  even  when  the  necessaries 
of  lile  are  wanting,  wliere  the  mind,  being 
a  stranger  to  the  most  essential  rudiments, 
w^ill  fly  upwards,  and  partake  of  the  nourish- 
ment fit  for  superior  wisdom  only,  it  is  nothing 
but  s})lcndld  miser}\  and  the  consequences  are 
dreadful.      By  tiius  prematurely  climbing  up 
into  regions  adapted  only  to  the  highest  intel- 
lectual capacities  ,  the  soul  unlearns  the  good 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  299 
and  honest  virtues  of  common  sense,  the  boast- 
ed endowment  of  our  good  mothers ;  when 
dressed  in  their  vehet  caps,  the  heart  sickens 
at  the  common  domestic  duties ;  it  is  deceived 
into  hopes  and  desires,  which  even  a  romantic 
writer  is  unable  to  rcahse.  After  ha\  ing  tickltd 
our  palate  in  tiiis  manner  by  continual  luxu- 
ries, we  must  at  last  have  recourse  to  strong 
ii(luors  and  highly-seasoned  viands,  to  excite  a 
relisii  for  common  food ;  so  the  soul  must  take 
her  flight  into  the  wild  regions  of  ecstasies,  to 
drive  away  the  tedious  hours,  and  solace  the 
vacant  heart." 

The  more  cultivated  part  of  the  French  have 
drawn  their  instructions  from  the  witty  and 
sarcastic  \\riters  of  the  last  century  alone  ; 
and  it  being  a  kind  of  national  disease  to  hunt 
after  them,  every  one  profited  by  the  agreeable 
lessons  of  their  agreeable  teachers ;  valets  and 
chambermaids  soon  learnt  to  satirise  and  sneer 
as  much  at  the  most  important  and  sacred  sub- 
jects, as  \'oltaire  and  Rousseau  themselves. 


300  BONAPARTE 

though  they  had  not  the  least  conception  oi' 
the  nature  of  the  subject.  How  false,  imper- 
fect and  impracticable  were  the  fundamental 
principles  of  these  leaders  !  How  unfit  was 
Rousseau  to  be  a  judge  of  constitutions,  as  he 
tries  them  only  by  the  touchstone  of  his  ima- 
gination, or  metaphysical  theories,  without  re- 
curring to  history,  or  to  circumstances,  as  a 
monitor ;  yet  his  political  and  philosophical 
speculations  were  the  foundations  on  which 
the  wise  men  in  France  attempted  to  erect 
their  new  buildings  of  egg  shells. 

The  greatest  part  of  the  nation,  and  all  who 
have  not  lived  in  the  principal  towns,  or  their 
neighbourhood,  are  wholly  uncultivated,  and 
uninformed  of  their  constitution,  their  rights, 
and  nobler  duties ;  they  are  only  fit  for  me- 
chanical emplo\'mcnts.  This  want  of  all  moral 
intcrmaaon  frustrated  all  the  endeavours  of 
the  most  enlightened  men  in  France,  who,  at 
the  beginnhig  of  the  rv";voIui  ion,  only  wanted  to 
found  a  reasonably  limited  monarchy.    It  has 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.      501 

been  the  cause  of  all  the  horrors  of  anarchy, 
and  the  '•ild  delirium  of  demagogues.  It  has 
made  there-estabhshmentofthe  most  arbitra- 
ry despotism  probable,  which  is  now  so  well 
organized,  that  it  has  rendered  the  prevention 
almost  impossible. 

The  first  national  assembly  was  undoubtedly 
composed  of  the  flower  of  all  classes  and  or- 
ders, but  it  wanted  firmness,  character,  and 
perse\  erance,  to  fix  the  basis  of  the  well- 
planned  edifice  ;  and  to  secure  it  so  firmly,  that 
any  improvement  and  crnament  might  be 
added  without  danger.  Tiiey  went  on  con- 
,structing  ;  and  when  doubts  and  fears  after- 
wards arose,  they  ga\e  it  up  to  the  second  as- 
sembly to  complete,  after  ha\  ing  left  it  in  such 
a  tottering  state,  that  the  first  storm  could 
blow  it  down.  In  their  folly,  or  instigated  by 
their  jealousy  of  each  other,  they  debarred 
themselves  iVom  assisting  and  directing  the 
new  jcurne\nien,  by  enacting,  that  no  mem- 
ber of  the  iirst,  should  accept  the  place  of  a  mi- 
nister, nor  be  chosen  a  member  of  the  second 


30t  BONAPARTE 

assembly.  Therefore  the  way  into  the  minis- 
try and  the  legisliitive  body  stood  q.-pen  only 
to  an  ignorant  uncultivated  multitude. 

That  this  multitude  seized  upon  ministry 
and  legislation  appeared  too  clearly,  even  at 
its  first  sittings.  The  former  could  be  furious^ 
and  sometimes  uncivil,  but  it  never  sunk  into 
senseless  vulgarity.     It  was  now,  as  if  another 
nation  had  taken  possession  of  the  seat  of  go- 
vernment.    Even  the  better  description  of  its 
members,  who  formed  the  party  of  the  Gironde, 
were    but   indifferent  or   partial    substitutes 
for  the  chief  persons  in  the  former  assembly, 
such  as  Mirabeau,  Sieyes,  La  Rochefoucault, 
Cazales,  Rabaut,  Lameth,  and  others.    Tlieir 
exertions  were  too  impotent  and  fearful,  to  be 
able  to  withstand  the  fury  of  the  rough  and 
stout  children  of  ignorance ;  they  were  subdu- 
ed, and  the  men  of  the  most  violent  disposi- 
tions, and  of  the  most  uncultivated  minds,  re- 
cruited themselves  from  others  of  the   same 
stamp,  and  a  genuine  representation  of  the 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.       303 

dross  and  rabble  of  the  nation  was  to  be  found 
as  law-givers  to  this  populous  country.     The 
care  of  learning,  and  the  arts,  the  sacred  zeai 
for  liberty  of  conscience,  and  liberty  of  the 
press  ;  the  blessed  respect  of  the  rights  of  pro- 
perty, and  of  the  Ydws  vanished  ;  and  in  their 
stead  arose  contempt  of  letters,  persecution, 
and  annihilation  of  all  liberty.     Scorn  of  the 
established  law,  and    a  desolating    rapacity 
began  to  prevail.     The  great  and  profound  ig- 
norance of  the  multitude   was  perceived  in 
these  times  of  desolation,  by  the  nation  itself, 
and  still  more  by  their  neighbours.     In  their 
armies,  by  which  ruin  was  spread  to  adjoining 
countries,  and  in  the  public  offices  of  France, 
insane  and  boisterous  as  they  might  be,  there 
was  still  some  sort  of  regularity  and  responsi- 
bility to  be    observed.     Accounts  and   lists 
wove  I'ound  necessary,  though  there  was  no  de- 
pentlcnce  upon  their  accuracy.     A  greater 
number  of  men  were  required,  who  understood 
figures,  and  wrote  a  legible  hand,  thim  former- 


a04  BONAPARTE 

ly,  when   the  whole  was   trusted  into    the 
hands    of  a  few  despoilers,   or  fermiers  gc- 
neraux.      But    excepting    those,    who   were 
brought  up  to  mercantile  business,  there    was 
such  a  want  of  men  who  were  acquainted  with 
the  first  rudiments  of  learning,  that  they  were 
compelled  to  place  the  most  nefarious  rogues 
in  the  offices  of  the  exchequer,  of  the  arms, 
and   in   the  financial    departments,  because 
they  only  were  possessed  of  that  little  know- 
ledge which  the  middle  and  lower  classes  of 
the  people  absolutely  wanted.   Many  foreign- 
ers, chiefly  Germans,  from  the  banks  cf  the 
Rhine,  soon  made  their  fortunes  by  their  abi- 
lities ;  and  if  the  minds  of  the  better  instmct- 
ed  German  youth  had  not  been  dazzled  by 
the  splendor  of  a  military  life,  they  might  have 
found  employment  by  thousands,  in  the  oflices 
and  bureaux  of  the  war  department  and  trea- 
sury.    Many   have,  however,   availed  them- 
selves of  the  opportunity. 

It  is  also  worthy  of  remark,  that  the  enligh- 
tened members  of  the  first  assembly  were  al- 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.     305 

ways  the  priQcIv)al  objects  ofpersecution  to  the 
siibscrjiient  national  assemblies,  whilst  the  pre- 
sent government,  which  is  in  want  of  able  and 
well-informed  men,  now  carefully  lookout  for 
all  those,  who  have  escaped  assassination,  and 
the  guillotine,  to  intrust  them  with  the  most 
ini[)oriant  places  in  administration  ;  Talley- 
rand, Sieyes,  Rdjderer,  Regnault,  St.  Jean 
D'.Vngely,  iVIounier,  Lameth,  and  several 
others,  are  striking  instances  j  yet  this  is  an  ad- 
ditional proof  of  the  want  of  ability  in  France. 

V'ery  few  Frenchmen  are  able  to  account  to 
thcmsel'.cs  vvhy  the  revolution  began  3  and  for 
v»  hat  object  taey  have  undergone  all  the  trou- 
bles and  horrors  of  the  last  fifteen  years. 

This  unacquaintauce  v.ith  their  own  mind, 
this  absolute  igiiorance  of  their  real  wants,  this 
turbulent  cagcriie^s  for  change,  render  them 
dissatisfied.  Tiicir  government  must  tranquil- 
lize them  either  by  deceitful  promises  and  trans- 
actions, or  keep  thein  down  by  arbitrary  mea- 
sures of  despotism.  The  go\ernment  must  de- 


306  BONAPARTE 

})ress  a  nation,  which  can  on!  y  be  led  by  art  or 
compulsion.  The  people  always  finding  iliem- 
sehes  outwitted  or  overpowered,  must  natu- 
rally hate  the  government.  If  the  ruler  be  a 
haught}^  despoiler,  a  conceited  man,  whose  an- 
ger is  roused  by  any  contradiction  and  resist- 
ance ;  if  the  nation  be  passionate,  inconsider- 
ate, vain  and  diss  lute,  then  the  contempt  of 
the  one,  and  the  hatred  of  the  other,  Avill  rise 
to  such  a  pitch  of  acrhnony,  that  all  fc-ehugs 
of  gratitude  for  past  services  must  cease,  and 
all  mutual  good-will  be  annihilated  for  ever. 

Tliis  is,  indeed,  tlie  state  of  the  puljlic  mind 
in  France.  Bonaparte  despises  i.io  ricnch  na- 
ti;)n  in  the  sr.me  degree  as  it  hates  him.  This 
abhorr;  iic'j  is  so  universal,  that  hardly  a  person 
is  to  be  fjiuid,  Vvho  will  do  justice  to  the  First 
Consul,  even  in  iiis  niililai  v  capacity  ^  and  ex- 
presslhat  hi_;,a  csti/cmof  his  tak>n!sasa warrior, 
which  has  bicn  liitherto  admired  through  all 
T.iro[!e,  [^cil:a})s  witii  too  great  an  enlhusiasm. 
E\en  the  ai'my  does  not  (eel  that  regard  and  at- 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.       307 

tachmciit  to  him  of  which  Morcau  is  so  liighly 
possessc'.l.  I  le  cerUiinly  gives  great  cause  ibr 
it,  aiul  [)rovokcs  a  considerable  part  ol"  the 
armv  by  his  liitteriiess,  jealousy,  and  ingra- 
titude towards  him,  who,  conscious  of  iiis  own 
nuiral  wortl),  and  its  value  as  a  general,  dis- 
dains to  take  revenge  on  tlie  injustice  which  Ir:- 
ii:i])arte  commits  against  him.  Instigated  by 
fear  and  envy,  Bonaparte  even  developes  h.is 
illiheral  mind  to  the  brave  Morean  ;  th'  iigh 
the  latter  woukl  never  enter  into  any  de\ice 
calculated  to  ensnare  himseli",and  be  the  means 
of  his  deportalion  ;  the  consequence  of  that 
greater  want  of  ()rudcnce  which  some  "cnerals 
have  evinced.  His  injustice  extends  to  all  who 
liave  served  tlieir  native  countiy  under  this  ex- 
cellent commaraler.  iVIany  of  the  officers  wlio 
"wci'e  promoted  by  Morcau  in  the  last  glorious 
campaign,  have  not  yet  received  their  bre\'ets 
from  government.  The  ministers  and  puidic 
ollicers  enter  into  these  sentiments  of  the  First 
Consul  witii  the  greatest  zeal.    It  is  notorious 


308  BONAPARTE 

that  it  is  no  rccomineiulution  with  tlicm  fcr  any 
person  to  npply  for  a  benefice  or  promotion, 
to  allege  his  ha^,  inir  served  under  him  :  on  the 
contrar  ,  it  rnilitales  against  him,  and  fre- 
quently exposes  the  aj.piicant  to  i  ude  and  iili- 
beral  treatment : — Vvliereas  the  good  forliine 
of  having  served  under  Bonaparte,  ei' her  in 
Italy  or  in  Egypt,  is  a  sure  passport  to  e'vOi-y 
distinction  and  emolument.  Yet,  b^  far  the 
greatest  officers  and  sc-Idiers  have  served  under 
Moreau,  and  consider  the  ncf^lect  of  their  p^e- 
neral,  under  whom  they  have  fought  with  so 
much  glory,  as  a  dishonour  to  themselves, 
which  they  ought  to  resent,  and  the  more,  as 
they  share  in  the  same  neglect.  If  Moreau 
were  an  ambitious  and  aspiring  man,  like  Mas- 
sena  for  instance,  he  miglit  soon  become  a 
very  dangerous  enemy  to  B  naparte  ;  bitt  he 
finds  too  groat  l-appiness  in  the  circle  of  his 
family  and  friends,  to  disturb  and  imbitter  his 
repose  by  hateful  passions,  by  intrigues,  or 
daring  enterprises.  Bonaparte  who  has  no  con- 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.        309 

coptinii  of  domestic  happiness,  does  not  credit 
this,  but  looks  upon  him  as  a  dangerous  rivaJ, 
who  might  ]>cc>^me  a  second  Monk ;  he  has 
him  beset  by  spies  wherever  he  goes,  though 
ho  assumes  a  careless  air,  as  if  he  took  no  no- 
tice of  liirn.     This  behaviour  manifests  little 
covuuiand  of  liis  pa-;sions,  and  no  conscious- 
ness (,f  [lis  own  worth  :  he  slieivs  that  he  is  lui- 
ahlc  to  vahie  military  talents  ;  he  lowers  him- 
self, and  injures  his  own  conse(]uence,  by  thus 
de£rradiiii<' Moreau.    Many  of  the  o:enerals  of 
the  Chief  Consul's  party,  and  favored  by  him 
particidarly,  are  too  proud  of  their  own  glory 
and  military  fame,   to  shew  an}'  contempt  of 
this  celebrated  soldier.    Not  a  word  of  disres- 
pect is  ever  utLcred  by  them  ;  they,  on  the  con- 
trary, often  speak  of  him  most  higiily.    Of  Bo- 
naparte nothing  is  heard  beyond  the  circle  of 
his  favorites  ;  they  are  utterly  silent  respecting 
him  when  they  enter  mixed  society.  His  arro- 
gance, his  arbitrary  disposal  of  favors,.frequent- 
\y  wound  even  his  satellites  ,  and  the  groans  of 


SIO  BONAPARTE 

the  oppressed  will  burst  forth,  after  having 
been  f.^r  a  loT.g  tiuxe  forcibly  su|)pressed. 

Every  one  is  strictly  cautious  hew  ho  niters 
his  sentiments.  Bonaparte,  who,  when  once 
irritated,  sets  no  bounds  to  his  vciipi  ance,  has 
silenced  reproacli  and  criticisms  ;  and  Lis  rigor 
is  therefore  less  resented  by  the  Freneli  in 
their  present  oppressed  staie. 

That  a  people,  w  ho  were  ibrmerl)-  and  design- 
edly permitted  to  speak  and  to  abuse,  if  they 
only  paid,  and  were  obedient — w  ho  w  ere  chr<(- 
terers  and  reasonersl)y  nature — whaT.ade  u  it- 
ticisms,  vaudevilles,  and  epigrams,  on  every  oc- 
casion ;  that  tiiey  should  now  bridle  hprightli- 
ness  and  wit  so  far,  as  not  to  allow  Ihen^.seb  ( s, 
during  three  years,  to  v.'iite  an  epigram  nor 
ballad  on  the  consular  government  arid  Bo- 
naparte, though  several  may  be  circulated  ni 
private,  is  certainly  worfhy  of  remark.  It 
proves  that  he,  ^vho  severely  punislied  c\ery 
pasquinade  on  the  spot,  has  chcsen  tiiC  proper 
method  to  restrain  this  inclination.    It  proves 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.       311 

tliat  the  spirit  of  the  nation,  which  would  give 
vent  in  fonneT  times  to  their  vivacity  and  liu- 
ni')r,  in  s[)ite  of  the  bastile  and  the  "  lettrcs 
de  caL'LK  ts,"  ib  entirely  broken  down  by  fear. 
]5y  s.l.i>hne.-s,  and  love  of  pleasarc,  they  have 
lost  all  coLirti'^e,  hrmness,  and  resolution.  This 
>vu;it  Oi'etK'r:i,y  has  displayed  itself  throughout 
th-'  wliolc  revolr.tion  :  Forinstr.nce,  has  there 
ever  b;c;i  a  single  man,  among  all  those,  who 
drew  a  iliousand  plans,  wlio  made  a  thousand 
attempts  to  save  and  to  disengage  the  royal 
Jamily,  on  ■■,\h'.-.::e  wel'arc  and  file  the  wh(jle  ex- 
istence oi"  ti:(i  noljihiy  and  of  the  whole  army 
seeDicd  {'.)  (-c'send — ilas  there  ever  been  one, 
who  has  iiad  eoijrage  and  resolution  to  hazard 
his  li!e  in  ti^e  dcienee  ci  the  unhappy  fiimily  ? 
Fnini  r/aia\  elte  and  BoLiillc,  dovv'u  to  the-lieu- 
leiiant  \>  iioeun:'inandedthedragoons  at  the  inn 
near  \\v-'  f/i^uli'jrs,  v.i^ere  the  roval  sullcrers 
w  cMX-  (ktained  ;  nay,  e\en  down  to  Santerre, 
w  ho  forced  himself  upon  them  as  a  protector, 
t!ie\-  a:i  shrunk  ut  the  decisive  moment, instead 


312  BONAPARTE 

of  displaying  that  manly  firmness,  and  ventur- 
ing their  life,  to  sirike  the  minds  of  the  people 
with  some  heroic  deed,  and  animating  them 
with  zeal  for  their  monarch  by  their  glorious  ex- 
ample. Cy  far  the  greatest  part  oftbe  national 
assembly  was  against  the  death  of  their  Sove- 
reign. Some  threatening  manceuvres  of  the 
daring  party  in  the  palace,  and  the  populace, 
which  had  surrounded  it  on  the  outside,  shortly 
before  the  nominal  appeal,  effected  a  ninjority 
of  five  votes  for  the  death  of  the  monarch.  A 
million  of  inhabitants,  who  pitied  tlieir  king, 
who  shed  tears  at  his  fate,  -who  were  armed  for 
defence  and  attack,  basely  and  cowaiuly  suf- 
fered themselves  to  be  conuned  within  their 
houses  by  a  handful  of  hired  ga\  ages ;  they 
tamely  suffered  tlieir  beloved  king  to  be  exe- 
cuted, vviliiout  ar.y  attempt  to  preserve  him. 
Sucii  proofs  of  pusillanimity  stamp  them  with 
ignominy  j  yet  it  is  most  surprizing,  tiiat  the 
very  same  nation,  thus  far  degraded  and  cor- 
rupted, still  exhibits  the  old  inborn  military  ar- 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.       313 

dor,  and  national  love  of  glory  of  former 
times.  ^Many  thousands  who  quietly  suffered 
themselves  to  be  guillotined,  for  fear  of  losing 
an  arm  or  a  leg,  would  have  marched  undaunt- 
edly against  an  enemy,  who  had  irritated  them 
— they  would,  if  their  leader  could  have  made 
it  a  point  of  honor,  have  climbed  up  batteries 
without  liesitation — they  would  have  borne  the 
greatest  hardships  with  incredible  patience. 

This  trait  in  their  character,  sliews  what 
energy  this  nation  [)ossesscs,  what  they  might 
be  brought  to  cilect,  if  they  had  built  upon  the 
foundation,  which  Charles  the  Great  laid  for 
their  happiness.  He  gave  them  a  constitution 
most  suited  to  their  habits.  If  in  public  in- 
struction they  had  made  it  their  great  object  to 
endear  it  to  the  citizens ;  and  to  shew  its  value, 
the  latter  would  have  made  any  sacrifice  for  the 
public  good,  and  cheerfully  fulfilled  their  so- 
cial duties.  If  they  had  followed  the  exam- 
ple, which  this  great  monarch  set  to  his  pta})lc, 
in  the  simplicity  of  his  manners,  and  in  the 

F  2 


314  BONAPARTE 

practice  of  social  \  irtues,  they  would  not  have 
mistaken  the  way  to  domestic  happiness,  nor 
would  they  have  lost  ail  relish  for  it.  Secure 
in  their  native  land,  peaceful  and  happy  in  the 
bosom  of  their  families,  they  might  have  select- 
ed, for  their  rational  amusement,  a  Petrarch, 
a  Tasso,  a  Raphael,  a  Buonaretti,  but  would 
never  have  sent  into  Italy  for  a  Medicis,  a 
Alazariuj  or  a  Bonaparte. 

There  are,  however,  some  men  of  highly 
cultivated  minds,  and  of  profound  erudition  in 
France,  who  have  saved  their  lives,  and  their 
learning,  from  the  wrecks  of  the  revolution. 
The  present  government  has  been  compelled 
to  avail  itself  of  their  ability.  May  they  ne- 
ver foi'get,  tliat  they  owe  their  present  good 
fortune,  not  to  Bonaparte,  but  to  the  diffusion 
of  knowledge — may  they  never  cease  to  be  its 
advocates  and  supporters. 

The  indifference  with  which  the  people  in 
general  look  upon  every  measure  of  the  First 
Consul  to  keep  them  in  ignorance,  is  astonish- 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.      315 

ing.     They  are  extremely  indififerent  about 
state  aflairs,  and  a  foreigner  must  make  parti- 
cular and  earnest  inquiries,  if  he  would  obtain 
any  information.    The  opulent  part  of  the  na- 
tion seek,  with  insatiable  eagerness,  after  sen- 
sual gratifications,  and  pleasures  of  all  kinds. 
The  luxury  of  the  table  is  brought  to  the  high- 
est pitch,  and  every  thing  which  concerns  the 
important  articles  of  eating  and  drinking  treat- 
ed as  the  most  momentous  affair.    The  great- 
est variety  and  plcnt}',  the  highest  refinement 
prevail  at  the  tables  of  the  wealthy.    The  same, 
attention  is  paid  to  wines.   The  richest  families, 
the  greatest  princes,  Avcre  formerly  satisfied 
with  those  of  the  country  ;  foreign  wines;  were 
seldom,  and  but  sparingly  produced.  But  now 
it  is  quite  the  reverse  j  and  whoever  wislies  to 
be  in  the  fashion,  must  provide  the  greatest 
variety  from  Portugal,  Spain,  Hungary,  and 
Germany.  The  greatest  sobriety  was  formerly 
observed,  perhaps  more  so  than  in  any  other 
country.   Wine  was  usually  mixed  with  water. 


316  BONAPARTE 

The  present  generation  are  not  so  abstemious ; 
they  \\  ill  indulge  themselves,  and  sometimes 
drink  to  an  unreasonaljle  excess.  The  plea- 
sures of  the  table  now  take  up  the  greatest 
part  of  the  day,  and  even  of  the  night.  The 
play-iiouses,  and  other  places  of  rational  a- 
musement,  suiler  by  such  long  repasts ;  a  fash- 
ion that  begins  to  prevail.  Very  few  prepara- 
tions were  necessary  in  former  times  for  din- 
ner parties:  People  met  at  an  early  hour,  spent 
some  time  in  chatting,  laughing,  and  good  hu- 
mour, over  a  cheerful  glass,  and  afterwards 
"went  to  the  play,  or  other  similar  places  :  But 
now,  the  greatest  number  of  people,  which  a 
saloon  can  possibly  hold,  are  assembled  toge- 
ther, for  no  other  purpose,  than  to  be  most 
completely  fed  and  filled  for  the  day ;  and  the 
variet}^  of  things  set  out  to  please  and  satisfy 
the  coarser  senses,  are  the  sole  subjects  on 
which  the  conversation  turns. 

Tins  immense  luxury  and  prodigality  of  opu- 
lent individuals  is  tiie  more  disgustu! lt,  as  the 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.      Sir 

greatest  part  of  them  are  men  without  good 
breeding,  or  engaging  manners, devoid  of  tastv^, 
and  of  that  ease,    by  which  these  luxurious 
feasts  can  only  be  rendered  any  ways  accepta- 
ble. The  greatest  misery,  and  the  most  wretch- 
ed beo^iiarv,  astonish  and  afflict  the  stranirer  : 
And  lie  who  is  neither  rich  nor  poor,  runs  in 
most  eager  pursuit  after  gain,  and  does  not  al- 
low himself  time  for  a  decent  or  moderate  en- 
joyment, in  order  the  sooner  to  join  the  socie- 
ty of  these  sons  of  prodigality.     It  is  not  com- 
fort they  seek  j  the  greatest  luxury  and  afflu- 
ence is  their  chief  aim.     That  happy  class  of 
men,  who,  in  humble  content,  live  on  a  mode- 
rate income,  and  pass  their  life  in  ease,  without 
craving  the  superfluities  of  others,  and  their 
empty  show,  is  seldom  to  be  found  here.  They 
generally  seem  anvious  and  eager  to  spend  the 
day  in  the  highest  luxury',  as  if  the  following 
would  not  leave  them  a  single  ni'^ment  for 
enjoyment  ;    they  are  driven  in  a  continual 
round  of  voluptuous  delights  :     and  if  they  be 
not  soon  ruined  in  a  worldly  point  of  view,  they 


318  BONAPARTE 

certainly  are  so  in  a  moral.  Yet  their  finances 
are  often  exhausted  first ;  and  the  number  of 
great  houses  which  have  failed  the  t\^'o  last 
years,  greatly  exceed  those  who  have  sprung 
up  in  the  mean  time.  The  ambition,  to  be 
looked  upon  as  "  un  homme  comme  il  Jaut^' 
makes  them  guilty  of  all  sorts  of  extravagan- 
cies j  and  as  they  can  only  acquire  this  title 
by  enormous  expenses,  these  have  no  bounds. 
Thoughtless  spendthrifts,  merchants  whose  in- 
comes are  uncertain,  contractors  who  cannot 
successfully  go  on  without  a  great  capital,  al- 
ways ready  to  meet  a  demand ;  these,  by  ex- 
pending their  ready  money  in  luxuries,  and  in 
venturesome  speculations,  involve  themselves, 
in  hopes  of  future  gain ;  difficulties  and  bank- 
ruptcies ensue.  Th^s  profusion  has  enhanced 
the  price  of  all  the  necessaries  of  life  :  They  set 
a  bad  example  to  their  inferiors,  who  will  no 
longer  lead  their  former  sober  hfe,  wlien  they 
see  their  masters  continually  outrunning  the 
bounds  of  decency  and  moderation. 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  319 
This  indescribable  prodigality  of  the  men  is 
still  exceeded  by  the  exorbitant  luxury  of  the 
women.  The  daily  change  in  the  fashions  of 
their  most  costly  dresses,  and  in  the  furniture 
of  their  rooms,  is  beyond  conception.  The 
most  expensive  Indian  and  English  muslins, 
ill  tlie  greatest  variety,  and  tl.c  most  precious 
stuii's  of  France,  are  their  daily  wear.  The 
continual  alterations  in  the  setting  of  diamonds, 
which  they  use  in  great  profusion,  render  these 
very  unnecessary  ornaments  still  more  expen- 
sive. All  sorts  of  })recious  stones,  cameos,  and 
intaglios,  are  become  indispensible  additions 
to  a  lady's  attire.  Their  expenses  in  furniture 
have  so  much  increased,  that  the  state-bed 
alone  of  a  lady  of  fashion,  now  costs  as  much 
as  the  Vvhole  furniture  of  an  elegant  apartment 
would,  in  former  times. 

Tiie  taste  and  character  of  these  prodigals 
do  not  appear  to  great  advantage,  if  we  consi- 
der the  object  forwliichthey  spend theirmoney. 
They  never  thought  of  availing  themselves  of 


320  BONAPARTE 

the  favorable  opportunity  of  purchasing  mas- 
ter-pieces of  art  from  Italy,  and  valuable  pic- 
tures from  the  Low  Countries.  There  is  no 
demand  for  the  best  works  of  their  own  ar- 
tists. Portraits  of  insignificant  individuals, 
and  busts,  are  the  only  things  which  are  sought 
after.  This  certainly  proves  that  the  wealth 
is  by  no  means  in  proper  hands  at  present. 

Bonaparte  sets  the  example  in  this  depraved 
taste.  He  only  employs  the  artists  for  his  own 
portrait.  David,  the  painter,  had  often  been 
ordered  to  copy  that  strange  picture,  a  fine 
carriccio,  which  represents  Bonaparte  going 
full  gallop  over  Mount  St.  Gothard,  on  a 
spotted  horse ;  whilst  his  masterly  picture  of 
the  Horatii,  his  Junius  Briitus,  and  the  Rape 
of  the  Sabines,  remain  unsold.  The  best  pic- 
ture of  Gerrard,  his  Bclisaiius,  is  sold  to  a 
Dutchman ;  and  this  great  artist  paints  scarce- 
ly any  thing  but  portraits.  It  is  the  same 
with  se\  eral  others. 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  321 
Bonaparte,  and  many  of  his  family,  together 
with  other  very  opulent  citizens  of  Paris,  are 
infatuated  vvitli  the  rage  of  building ;  yet,  noth- 
ing lias  been  brought  forth,  which  may  be 
looked  upon  as  a  monument  of  architecture. 
Tliey  ha\  e  laid  out  immense  sums  for  the  fit- 
ting up  of  the  inside  of  their  palaces,  and  a 
thousiiiid  superfluous  additions  and  alterations, 
wliicli  their  fancy  and  caprice  suggested. 

Tliis  false  taste  has  extended  itself  even  to 
the  stcige,  glittering  and  motley  colors  consti- 
tute the  character  of  almost  all  the  scenes 
painted  of  late.  True  grandeur,  founded  on 
the  simplicity  and  coherence  of  all  parts  to  one 
great  point,  is  seldom  observed.  The  better 
taste  is  still  preserved  on  the  great  stages,  in 
the  costume  of  ancient  dresses,  which  are  be- 
yond the  reach  of  flishionable  vicissitude. 
Yet  their  love  of  glitter  and  shew  manifests 
itself  even  here,  by  the  profusion  of  gold  lace 
on  the  clothes  of  the  French  heroes  and  he- 
roines of  the  buskin.     A  vulgar  taste  has  ob- 


325  BONAPARTE 

tained  on  the  little  theatres,  and  nature  is  re* 
presented  in  its  disgusting  nakedness.  The 
characters  of" thief-catchers,  goalers,  and  ex- 
iles, are  copied  and  represented  in  a  most 
disagreeable  and  loathsome  manner,  as  to 
dress  and  gestures. 

The  dancers,  both  men  and  women,  observe 
no  costume ;  they  have  laid  aside  all  kind  of 
dress,  and  the  whole  of  it  is  nothing  but  a 
slight  imitation   of  the  paradisiacal  fig-leaf. 
As  many  of  the  female  dancers  are  fine  and 
stately  figures,  the  eye  would  not  be  so  much 
disgusted  with  this  state  of  nature,  if  their  art 
still  bore  in  pantomimes  the  character  of  gran- 
deur and  boldness  ;  but  it  is  degenerated  inta 
mere  jumping,  and  their  feats  are  nothing  but 
variations  on  the  old  method  of  tumbling  and 
leaping.      The  females  have  certainly  some 
grace,  but  not  of  that  chaste,  noble  and  digni- 
fied kind,  which  touches  the  heart,  and  not 
the  senses  :  it  is  light,  nimble,  lascivious,  and 
^Iculated  only  to  rouse  desires.     U  it  were 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.      32S 

not  for  some  attitudes  of  Alesdames  Clotilde 
and  Saunier,  one  might  say  of  tlie  grand  ballets 
of  the  Parisian  opera,  that  Terpsichore  is  be- 
come the  prettiest  and  most  enchanting  pellic 
?naitressCy  that  ever  granted  her  favors,  and 
oilered  her  charms  to  the  jovial  and  giddy  ter- 
restrial Lijods.  Tlie  multitude  run  easreriy  after 
tlie  fa\  orite  actresses,  and  are  liighly  pleased 
with  their  exertions.  Government  e^^er  atten- 
tive to  give  employment  to  tiie  sense,  and  to 
encourage  the  people  in  their  mirth, allow  them 
an  annual  income  of  half  a  milHon  of  livres. 

1  he  high  tragedy,  to  which  the  First  Consul 
scciiis  very  Y}artial,isiieilhcr  a  whole,,  nor  apart, 
neither  cold  nor  warm.  They  have  deserted  the 
former  tragic  manner,  whic:h  was  peculiar  to 
the  French,  and  wiiich  did  not  suffer  any  mix- 
ture of  Ibi'cigu  art  with  nature.  French  tra- 
gedy stands  therefore  below  that  of  England 
and  Germany,  though  they  possess  a  great  ac- 
quisition in  Talma,  and  promising  abilities  are 
discernible  in  several  young  actresses. 


324  BONAPARTE 

They  are  not  better  off  in  their  high  comic 
art.  The  intermixture  of  the  Italian  taste  has 
clone  the  same  harm  in  this  respect,  as  the 
English  has  produced  in  tragedies.  The  na- 
tional, and  truly  original  French  comedian 
of  former  times  is  almost  entirely  degenerated 
into  an  Italian  buffoon,  yet  they  are  still  un- 
rivalled in  what  is  called  polite  comedy  and 
naivete  i  many  excellent  performers  of  this 
kind  are  still  to  be  met  with,  on  tlie  greater 
stages.  The  little  theatres  have  made  it  their 
chief  study,  since  the  revolution,  to  excel  in 
low  comic  and  grotesque  acting.  Nature  cari- 
catured is  often  exhibited  there  in  great  per- 
fection, and  with  that  ease  which  is  peculiar  to 
the  French  only.  These  little  theatres  are 
chiefly  visited  by  the  merry  and  profligate 
part  of  the  community,  and  therefore  ahvays 
crowded,  in  whatever  part  of  the  town  tiiey 
may  be  situated.  The  multitude  of  tlic  higher 
and  lower  classes  are  never  tired  with  them. 
Some  of  the  most  wealthy  iamiHes  in  Paris  have 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.        325 

private  boxes  at  the  greater  theatres,  for 
which  they  annually  pay  considerable  sums ; 
yet,  by  far  the  greatest  part,  is  so  much  taken 
up  by  eating  and  drinking,  that  they  have  no 
time  to  go  to  the  play ;  or  if  they  do,  it  is 
mostly  in  pursuit  of  little  love  intrigues. 

All  Frenchmen,  possessed  of  any  property, 
are  most  extravagant  in  one  particular  thing, 
namely,  in  gambling.    The  inconsiderate,  pas- 
sionate, and  interested  character  of  the  French, 
po\verfully  draws  them  into  this  vice.     Their 
government  turns  it  to  some  profit ;  it  favors, 
in  the  highest  degree,  all  sorts  of  games  of 
chance.    A  great  general  society,  or  company 
of  gamblers,  pay  the  sum  of  six  millions  of 
livrcs  to  government,  for  the  sole  exclusive 
privilege  of  opening  as  many  gambling  houses 
at  Paris  as  they  think  proper.     They  have 
opened  in  the  first  year  of  their  existence,  or 
union,  ten  grand  tables  in  the  most  frequented 
hotels,  and  spare  iieitlier  art  nor  temptation,  to 
attract  the  lovers  of  gain,  who  night  and  day 


9$6  BONAPARTE 

assemble  in  crowds  at  these  places,  men  and 
women  promiscuously. 

The  French  government  have  also  thought 
fit  to  establish  lotteries  all  over  France,  which, 
in  former  times  only  existed  at  Paris.  The 
drawing  of  the  lotteries,  which  are  now  estab- 
lished in  all  the  chief  towns,  occur  so  fre- 
quently, that  the  adventurer  may  specidate  in 
them  every  day  of  the  3  ear.  The  annual 
sum  of  thirty  millions  of  livres  falls  into  the 
coffers  of  government  by  this  financial  ma- 
noeuvre. 

The  family  of  Bonaparte  know  also  how  to 
benefit  themselves,  and  their  partisans,  by  the 
granting  of  such  licenses.  The  above  society 
has  been  compelled  to  grant,  besides  tlicir  sti- 
pulated licence  money,  annual  pensions  to 
some  of  them,  and  their  favorites.  The  name 
of  Madame  Bonaparte  is  reported  to  stand 
first  on  this  pension  list,  with  fifty  I>ouis 
il'or  for  daily  card  money,  affixed  to  it.  The 
mames  of  courtiers,  performers  at  the  play- 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.      327 

houses,  and  female  dancers,  swell  tliese  lists, 
with  inferior  sums.     The  last  on  this  list  is  a 
singer,  who  has  fifty  Louis  d*or  annually  as- 
signed to  him.     The  whole  of  the  pensions  is 
reported  to  amount  to  one  million  of  livres. 

The  French  government  thus  avail  them- 
selves of  all  the  vices  and  extravagancies  of 
the  people,  to  increase  their  revenues ;  or, 
as  they  chuse  to  call  it,  to  "  improve  the 
finances."  Whether  they  have  chosen  the 
right  method  to  place  the  finances  on  a  solid 
f)undation,  it  will  easily  be  seen,  from  some 
particulars,  in  their  administration  of  the  re- 
%'eimcs. 

There  is  no  system  in  the  whole  of  it.  No- 
thing but  separate  and  temporary  operations, 
to  ask  from  tlie  people  the  most  money  they 
can  spare,  to  collect  it  with  the  greatest  se- 
verity, and  afterwards  to  conceal  from  them 
by  tricks  and  art,  tlie  amount  of  the  whole  oT 
what  they  are  to  pay. 


328  BONAPARTE 

None  of  those  who  are  to  pay  taxes  to  the 
municipahty  of  their  district,  can  learn  the  sum 
already  received  by  government,  and  whether 
the  amount  required  from  any  particular  dis- 
trict have  not  been  already  collected. 

The  persons  authorised  to  assess  the  inhabi- 
tants, who  are  also  collectors,  have  nothing  to 
do  with  appeals  against  the  assessment.  Com- 
missioners are  appointed  to  hear  them,  but  the 
complainant  must  first  have  obtained  a  receipt 
for  the  payment  of  the  first  three  months  of  his 
rate  ;  and  even  then  meets  with  no  redress,  il' 
the  Court  do  not  chuse  to  take  his  case  into 
consideration.  Should  his  rate  be  lessened,  his 
fellow-citizens  must  pay  for  the  deficit,  and 
every  householder  is  liable  to  be  charged  a 
higher  rate  during  the  year,  which  must  be 
paid  without  any  hesitation,  or  the  least  resist- 
ance. Every  one  therefore  must  wish  that  his 
neighbf)ur  should  readily  subscribe  his  quota, 
whatever  it  may  be  j  a3  the  assessor,  who  is  also 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.      529 

collector,  receives  the  thirtieth  part  of  the 
amount,  it  is  his  interest  to  exceed  the  mark, 
and  the  government  is  never  much  incHned  to 
return  what  it  has  received  over  and  above  the 
sums  required  from  the  people ;  they  therefore 
wink  at  tliese  extortions. 

The  philosopher  M.  IMercier  once  attempt- 
ed to  prove,  that  as  man's  happiness  consists 
in  hope,  lotteries  must  render  a  nation  truly 
happy  ;  no  doubt  he  will  also  be  able  to  prove, 
that  government,  by  asking  but  a  little,  and 
takiuG:  a  <>reat  deal,  will  certainly  render  them 
moj^t  completely  happy. 

The  returned  cmiGrrants  have  indeed  irreat 
doubts  about  the  present  financial  system  in 
France,  but  it  is  now  brought  to  the  highest 
perfection.  The  citizens,  counsellors  of  state, 
are  not  only  ac(|ucinlcd  before -hand,  what  the 
people  are  willing  and  able  to  paj'.  and  that 
every  thing,  like  the  miraculous  loaves  and 
fishes  in  the  gospel,  will  multiply  in  the  gather- 
ing ;  they  also  perfectly  well  understand  how 
II  2 


330  BONAPARTE 

to  pay  the  creditors  of  the  state  free  of  any  ex- 
pense, and  contract  debts,  without  any  need 
of  white  balls  from  their  most  humbly  devoted 
legislators. 

This  is  the  most  easy  thing  for  the  Direc- 
teur  general  du grand  livre  et  de  la  liquidation 
de  la  dette  puhlique.  Any  body  who  enjoys 
the  protection  of  the  court,  and  has  a  demand 
on  the  French  government,  is  paid  either  by  an 
order  on  foreign  or  inland  debtors,  by  the 
assignment  of  national  property,  or  by  enter- 
ing his  name  in  the  great  book  of  pensioners, 
which  no  legislative  body  can  ever  peep  into,  as 
it  is  always  carefully  locked  up.  The  court  fa- 
vorite, who  is  indebted  to  government,  here 
finds  the  fairest  opportunity  to  enrich  himself, 
by  this  mode  of  payment ;  he  purchases  for 
a  trifle,  where  he  can,  all  the  demands  on  go- 
vernment, from  such  as  despair  of  being  paid  i 
he  sets  them  off  against  the  demands  of  the 
state,  and  becomes  a  rich  man.  This  transac- 
tion is  not  carried  on  secretly  3  no  !  the  brokers 


t 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.      331 

go  round  the  Exchange,  and  inquire  who  has 
any  demands  on  government  to  sell.  The  old 
state  creditors,  whose  debts  were  formerly  an- 
nulled, are  reimbursed  in  this  way,  if  they  are 
fortunate  enough  to  obtain  protection;  but  woe 
to  those  who  have  no  interest  at  court.  It  will 
be  impossible  for  them  to  satisfy  the  endless  de- 
mands of  securities,  accounts,  and  bonds,  to 
establish  his  claim  in  the  scrutinising  eye  of  the 
judges  j  and  if,  after  several  years'  application, 
he  should  succeed,  he  has  not  yet  safely  steered 
his  vessel  into  port.  A  question  on  the  vali- 
dity of  some  bond,  testimony,  or  witness,  may 
be  started  ;  payment  is  suspended  for  the  pre- 
sent ;  and  the  poor  creditor  is  threatened  by 
the  state  inquisition,  or  by  the  special  tribu- 
nals, with  being  indicted  for  forgery. 

It  may  be  asked — If  this  be  the  nefarious 
conduct  of  government,  where  will  the  man  be 
found  willing  to  contract  for  the  victualling,  or 
clothing  of  tiie  army,  or  supplying  them  with 
stores  ?     They  are  actuated  by  the  same  bajse 


332  BONAPARTE 

principles  as  promoters  of  lotteries,  and  high- 
way robbers.  A  thirst  of  gain,  and  a  confi' 
clence  of  being  able  to  out-wit,  even  the 
shrewdest  amongst  the  cunning,  prevail  over 
the  many  melancholy  examples  of  those  who 
have  been  ruined,  or  have  forfeited  their  lives 
by  such  iniquitous  enterprises. 

It  is  a  mournful  proof  of  the  wretched  state 
of  a  nation,  when  the  public  offices  are  looked 
upon  as  the  chief  branch  of  national  inchistry ; 
yet  this  is  really  the  case.  Considerable  as  the 
salaries,  attached  to  any  office  or  place,may  be, 
the  holder  of  it  regards  every  perquisite,  he  is 
legally  entitled  to,  as  the  smallest  part  of  his  in- 
come.— Mais  ks  Affaires — for  so  they  call  all 
matters  of  protection,  which  bring  good  round 
sums  to  fill  the  pockets  of  every  one,  from  the 
highest  down  to  the  lowest,  who  has  any  influ- 
ence with  the  chief  of  the  department,  either  by 
the  means  of  liis  valet,  or  his  clicre  amie — these 
extra  fees  make  a  small  amends  for  their  trifling 
salaries ;  this  is  the  universal  crv. 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE,  333 
A  remaikcible  occurence  of  thiskind deserves 
notice.  A  demraid  on  government  for  several 
miliiOHs,  due  to  some  gentlemen  near  the 
RhinCjfor  provisions  and  stores  delivered  to  the 
army,  had  been  made,  and  applied  for  thiougU 
all  the  customary  legal  channels  without  suc- 
cess. The  case  was  at  last  brought  before  Lu- 
c;en  Bonaparte.  I  lis  opinion  was  asked,  whe- 
ther the  payment  might  be  obtained  without 
further  delay,  as  in  that  case  the  creditors  were 
willing  to  submit  to  some  deductions.  Lucien, 
after  a  full  investigation  of  the  subject,  pro- 
nounced the  demand  to  be  a  just  one,  and  said 
to  the  supplicant,  "  Je  men  charge  a  cinquante 
pour  cent,  dans  Irois  mois  voiis  ioucherezy^ 
Tiie  debt  was  discharged,  and  Lucien,  who 
had  settled  this  payment  with  the  First  Consul 
and  his  niinisters-,  was  a  {ew  millions  the  richer. 
Tiie  appointments  of  a  senator,  and  a  legisla- 
tor are  certainly  not  to  be  compared  with  such 
prclh)  bargains. 

*  You  slidl  be  paid  in  three  monlh,  Fifty  per  cent. 
(nicar.iny  Diitouiit;. 


334  BONAPARTE 

Embezzlements  and  frauds  must  be  continu- 
ally committed  by  the  contractors,  to  repay 
themselves  for  the  immense  sums,  which  they 
must  lay  out,  previously  to  their  obtaining  the 
contracts  from  government,  to  make  good  the 
deductions,  they  must  always  submit  to,  in  or- 
der to  get  their  money :  nevertheless,  they  gain 
by  these  contracts,  the  immense  sum  of  20,  nay 
SO  millions  of  livrcs  :  this  was  the  case  with 
Collot  the  contractor  for  the  army  of  Italy,  and 
the  navy,(who  is  supposed  to  be  worthasmuch) 
when  the  present  war  broke  out,  this  Collot 
almost  forced  government,  to  let  him  have  the 
contract  for  the  navy  stores,  by  pretending  an 
embarrassment  of  his  affairs  shortly  before,  and 
threatening  a  bankruptcy,  if  not  supported  and 
kept  up  by  them.  The  government  is  very  at- 
tentive to  those  who  have  amassed  immense 
wealth  in  a  short  time  during  the  war ;  perhaps 
they  granted  the  contract,  to  drain  him  a  little. 
It  is  also  reported,  tliat  Joseph  Bonaparte  has 
drawn  a  small  sum  from  this  Collot,  when  th(5 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  335 
former  was  concluding  the  peace  at  Luneville. 
The  day  pre\  iously  to  its  being  signed,  when 
Joseph  was  sure  of  its  taking  place,  he  dispatch- 
ed a  courier,  acquainting  him  privately  with 
the  ratification  of  the  peace,  and  ordering  him 
at  the  same  time,  to  purchase  1,800,000  livres 
in  the  stocks  on  his  account.  Immediately  af- 
ter the  fnial  conclusion  he  sent  him  another 
note  wiUi  this  information,  and  reminded  him 
of  the  purcliase — CoIIot  had  already  executed 
the  order,  and  Joseph  returned  to  Paris. 

The  state  bonds  for  these  1,800,000  hvres 
were  sent  by  Co  Hot  to  tlie  noble  pacificator, 
accompanied  with  a  very  polite  letter,  inclu- 
ding his  two  former  notes,  and  assuring  him 
that  he  could  by  no  means  think  of  keeping 
the  notes,  of  the  grand  pacificator  of  the 
greatest  nation  in  the  world,  amongst  his  mer- 
cantile papers.  lie  therefore  begged  master 
Joseph  to  send  an  order  for  the  amount;  tothis 
there  v/ as  no  answer.  Eight  days  after,  Collot 
himself  waits  upon  him. — He  was  invisible. — 


336  BONAPARTE 

He  now  sees  plainly  how  it  was  meant.  The 
pacificator  would  also  have  his  share  in  the 
profit,  which  CoUot  could  make  by  this  timely 
notice.  He  was  silent,  and  of  the  1,800,000 
livres  nothing  afterwards  was  said.  Such  little 
sacrifices  must  be  made  up  by  contracts  with 
government,  and  Collot  must  occasionally  be 
indulged  with  them. 

K*'Jler,  v»  ho  was  the  uncontrolled  asrent  of 
the  finances  in  Italy,  is  reported  to  be  still 
richer  than  Collot.  He  is  the  man  for  the 
Chief  Consul. 

HengerloOjCcrf  Biihr.  Gnbert,aud  Co,  (who 
began  with  selling  cattle  for  the  army)  Vurras, 
Larus,  and  Bezar,  are  all  possessed  of  several 
millions ;  but  they  hve  in  sii:h  an  expensive 
style,  and  with  such  boundless  prodigality,  that 
thev  arc  over  easrer  after  immoderate  iraiii. 

Hengei;loo  indeed  made  an  arrangeuiont  w  ith 
his  creditors, but  many  believed  that  it  vvasonly 
a  trick  to  escape  the  contrac-s  io.  uie  armv', 
which  v\'ere  afterwards  forced  upon  Coilot. 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.      337 

Among  the  generals  who  commanded  in  tlie 
last  war,  and  who  generally  agreed  with  the 
contractors  and  commlssaires  ordonnatcurs, 
and  thus  had  an  opportunity  to  enrich  them- 
selves, by  clieating  government,  and  ruining 
forcipjn  countries,  by  levying  contributions, 
Leclerc,  Massena,  and  Afurat,  are  reported 
to  have  ac(iuired  immense  riches  :  Moreau 
has  not  taken  such  good  care  of  himself, 

Talleyrand  is  richer  than  any  other  of 
the  ministers.  Nothing  can  be  obtained  but 
through  their  influence.  An  instance  of  this 
occurred  in  tlic  10th  yearof  the  Republic.  The 
great  water-works  of  Alarly,  on  which  many 
millions  had  been  expended,  had  been  so  far 
injured,  that  all  repairs  seemed  useless.  Bona- 
parte having  always  been  desirous  of  inhabiting 
the  former  royal  residence  at  V^ersailles,  the  ne- 
cessity of  this  machine  became  the  more  pres- 
sing, as  this  place  can  procure  no  supply  of 
water  without  ir.  Government  olTered  to 
contract  for  it,  and  a  society  (X  weiilthy  pcr- 
I  -2 


338  BONAPARTE 

SODS,  with  M.  Montgolfier,  the  celebrated  me- 
chanist, at  their  head,  offered  to  build  a  new 
one,  which  should  convey  more  water  than  the 
former.  Tliey  demanded  no  advances  in  mo- 
ney, but  offered  to  submit  the  work  to  connois- 
seurs j  and,  if  they  approved  it,  they  would  re- 
quire nothing  more  than  the  materials  of  the 
old  machine.  This  very  simple  proposal  they 
conceived  would  ensure  the  job,  consequently 
they  had  not  thought  it  necessary  to  purchase 
protectors,  but  they  were  refused.  The  repair- 
ing the  old  machine  was  resolved  on,  and  the 
contract  given  to  some  friends. 

The  public  prints  frequentlj'  pass  high  enco- 
miums on  the  great  care  of  the  French  govern- 
ment in  restoring  the  manufactures  to  the  flour- 
ishing state  of  former  times,  and  to  incite  na- 
tional industry,  but  these  eulogiums  are  not 
merited.  Tiie  abolition  of  all  private,  in  favor 
of  one  single  state-bank,  which  monopolizes 
the  whole,  clogs  industry  by  confining  the 
money  to  one  spot.     The  further  to  promote 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.       339 

this  object,  new  laws  have  been  framed  to  pre- 
vent the  importation  of  foreign,  and  chiefly 
English  merchandise  ;  and  it  is  enacted,  that 
the  French  manufacturies  established  near  the 
frontiers,  shall  be  removed  into  the  interior 
Avlienever  suspected  of  introducing  contraband 
goods  as  their  own.  The  wise  financiers  forgot, 
that  all  those  that  are  well  established,  are 
calculated  upon  local  circumstances,  without 
whicli  they  must  come  to  ruin. 

The  new  regulation  with  respect  to  the  sale  of 
wood,  for  building,  &ic.  on  national  property, 
must  also  prove  destructive  to  many  manu- 
facturers. Formerly  it  was  the  custom  for  the 
owners,  when  the}'  had  occasion  for  wood  from 
the  royal  domains,  to  join  with  others,  and  con- 
tract for  a  certain  quantity,  which  was  to  be  cut 
down,  as  it  was  wanted,  in  five,  six,  or  seven 
years,  and  paid  for  on  delivery.  Thus  they  were 
sure  to  be  provided  without  the  necessity  of 
making  any  advances.  The  present  go\  ern- 
ment,  however,  only  think  of  getting  the  mo- 


S40  BONAPARTE 

ney,  without  considering  how  far  it  may  em- 
barrass or  distress  individuals.  All  wood  from 
the  national  domains  is  now  sold  to  the  high- 
est bidder,  must  be  paid  for  instantly,  and  car- 
ried OiT  without  delay.  By  this  regulation  it 
is  only  in  the  po^^er  of  the  wealthy  manufac- 
turer to  purchase.  He  speculates  besides,  in 
conjunction  with  other  monied  men,  on  y>hat 
the  less  opulent  may  want  :  He  makes  large 
contracts  in  advar>ce,  and  sells  at  his  own 
price.  Industrious  men,  and  }'oung  beginners, 
are  thus  dependent  on  avaricious  and  unfeel- 
ing jobbers,  who  generally  succeed  in  effect- 
ing their  ruin. 

The  interest  of  money  is  also  too  high  to  ad- 
mit of  small  loans.  'J'he  great  capitalist  can, 
at  any  time,  make  12  and  15  per  cent,  without 
much  trouble  ;  and  can  also  gain  considerably 
by  contracting  with  go\  ernment,  by  the  course 
of  exchange,  or  by  gambling  in  the  funds.  He 
can  likewise  employ  it  to  great  profit  in  the  pur- 
cliase  of  national  properly  and  estates :  In  fact. 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.       341 

there  aremany  advantageousmeansepen,  with- 
out eiidaiigcriiig  iiis  capital,  in  new  manufac- 
tures, or  Other  uncertain  establishments.  Both 
the  cultivation  of  the  country,  and  the  country- 
men iiave  been  benefited  by  tiie  revolution.  The 
freedom  (  f  inheritance  of  copyhold,  without 
paving  a  fee  to  the  lord  of  the  manor,  the  abo- 
lition of  all  leudal  services,  the  liberty  of  sell- 
ing their  property  and  land,  and  the  partition 
of  large  farms  and  estates  into  smaller  ones;  all 
these  allcrations,  which  the  peasants  owe  to 
the  re\  okition,  ha',  c  been  very  beneficial.  The 
faiuier  is  grown  richer  ;  his  encreased  capital 
lias  been  employed  in  the  improvement  of  his 
land,  and  in  the  purchase  of  cattle;  the  coun- 
try is  not  only  better  cultivated,  but  more  land 
is  under  tillage  than  before.  With  respect  to 
all  other  branches  of  industry,  very  little  can 
be  said  of  their  nourishing  state.  The  only 
thing  vvliieh  may  benefit  commerce,  is,  the  re- 
moval of  that  prejudice  which  formerly  forbade 
noblemen  to  engage  in  commercial  specula- 


342  BONAPARTE 

tions.  Madame  de  Turene  has  articled  her  son 
to  a  great  mercantile  house,  and  several  of  the 
nobility  have  followed  her  example.  Some  no- 
blemen have  laid  out  their  money  in  manufac- 
tures, which  yield  but  little  profit  ;  for  the 
French  have  by  no  means  that  exactness  and 
regularity,  nor  that  experience  and  solid  know- 
ledge of  business,  so  absolutely  necessary  for 
the  management  of  these  concerns.  They  are 
all  enterprising,  but  very  deficient  in  just  cal- 
culations. They  generally  enter  into  a  part- 
nershijD  with  other  wealthy  men.  Their  na- 
tional vanity,  and  love  of  show,  lead  them  to 
begin  with  fine  large  buildings  ;  whilst  the 
prudent  Englishman,  uncertain  of  success, 
usually  commences  with  a  small  wocden 
house.  The  spirit  of  gambling,  which  per- 
vades the  French,  also  induces  them  to  spe- 
culate deeph',  to  encrease  the  chance  of  con- 
siderable profit.  The  luxury  and  extravagance 
of  these  proprietors  while  they  dwindle  their 
capital,  infect  their  clerks  and  servants,  and 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.         543 

prove  baneful  to  their  morals.  The  first  who 
establish  a  manufacture,  generally  lessen 
tiieir  pro[)erty  by  building  and  show  :  The 
second,  who  take  it  up,  by  want  of  caution 
and  too  great  enterprise  :  The  third,  by  want 
of  regularity  and  exactness  :  The  fourth,  how- 
ever, generally  begin  to  gain  a  little.  Yet  they 
have  still  to  combat  the  English  as  rivals,  who 
are  })ossessed  of  all  the  means  which  continual 
industr\',  the  perseverance  of  a  whole  century, 
and  a  public  spirit,  w  hich  supports  every  thing 
great,  can  in\ent.  They  have  also  to  struggle 
with  the  excise  oiiicers,  whose  depravity  of 
character  is  commensurate  with  that  of  the 
nation  :  Very  few  of  these  men  have  accepted 
their  places  lor  the  sake  of  the  salary  attached 
to  tlicm,  but  solely  on  account  of  the  oppor- 
tunity it  ahbrds  tlum  of  acquiring  a  fortune, 
by  trading  in  contraband  goods,  which  have  " 
a  great  sale  in  Trance. 

Tliere  i.-5  hard!\'  a  person  in  France,  whodoes 
not  wear  some  jiroduce  of  Engii-h  manufac- 


iU  BONAPARTE 

ture;  from  the  wife  of  the  Chief  Consul  down 
to  the  daughter  of  a  common  ishoopkeeper, 
nothing  but  Enghsh  muslins  are  worn.  Ma- 
dame Bonaparte  countenances  this  fashion, 
and  sometimes  grants  to  her  favorites  the  pri- 
vilege of  importing  small  quantities  of  prohi- 
bited goods  for  themselves.  The  wretched 
state  of  the  French  manufactures  may  be  easily 
conceived  ;  if  it  be  remembered,  that  they  al- 
most all  live  near  the  frontiers,  and  import 
foreign  articles,  which  they  pass  as  their  ov.n 
by  putting  their  mark  upon  Ihcm. 

One  of  the  additional  hindrances  of  industry 
istho  unequal  administracion  of  justice. — Ma/i- 
dafs  dc  depot,  or  warrarits  of  arresl,are  granted 
on  the  least  pretence  ;  the  man,  whose  seizure 
the  warrant  authorisesjis  taken  up,  iwniscci'jx-'d, 
as  they  call  it,  to  distinguish  it  from  imj/rison- 
ment.  lie  is,  ncverllieless,  ccnfined  in  a  worse 
and  more  wrciched  place,  than  tlie  |»ub!ic  pri- 
sons for  ciimhials.  Whilst  he  remaiiis  there, 
witnesses  are  called  bef.re  the  tribunals,  and 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.      345 

the  judges  examine  them  privately ;  they  allow 
no  counsel  to  the  accused,  they  sometimes 
threaten  to  treat  them  as  accomplices,  if  they 
will  not  confess,  or  say,  what  the  judges  wish 
they  should — The  great  art  of  these  worthy- 
judges  in  the  special  tribunal  is  to  find  out 
contradictions  in  the  depositions,  and  they  are 
very  expert  in  drawing  out,  what  they  call, 
these  faux  rationals. 

The  more  ignorant  and  fearful  the  witnesses 
are,  the  better  they  succeed.  After  having  ex- 
amined them  sufficiently,  an  order  to  commit 
them,  a  mandat  (T arret  is  issued,  and  is  gene- 
rally considered  by  the  prisoner  as  a  verdict  of 
guilty. 

The  law,  which  enacted,  that  prisoners  should 
not  be  kept  confined  longer  than  48  hours,  with- 
out being  heard,  was  thus  eluded  by  the  judges, 
who  do  not  consider  the  securing  of  a  man,  in 
virtue  of  a  mandat  dft  depot  as  imprisonment 
or  arrest,  though  he  may  have  been  in  the  de- 
pot for  several  months.  Now  thi^  subterfuge  is 
k2 


346  BONAPARTE 

no  longer  wanted  to  infringe  the  law.  Tiie 
First  Consul  has  arrogated  to  himself  the  solo 
right  of  deciding  as  he  pleases  in  all  these  cases, 
as  it  has  been  observed. 

The  prisoner  after  having  received  a  mandate 
of  arrestation,  is  examined  by  the  judges  and 
has  a  counsellor  assigned  him  ;  but  the  judge 
may  command  him  to  keep  silence,  whenever 
he  chuses,  on  the  pretext,  that  by  his  defence 
he  enters  too  much  into  political  questions, 
or  interct  d'etat.  If  this  counsellor  attempt 
to  go  on,  he  is  laid  under  an  interdict  for  two 
or  even  six  months,  by  the  judge,  during  which 
time  he  is  not  allowed  to  appear  as  counsel  in 
any  court  of  juslice. 

There  is  also  a  kind  of  torture  introduced  for 
obstinate  prisoners,  who  will  not  confess  ac- 
cording to  the  desire  of  the  judge.  It  is  an  in- 
^  eiition  worthy  of  a  Nero.  The  present  prelect 
of  the  police,  Dubois,  wiio  executes  the  will  and 
orders  of  Bonaparte  wilh  more  readinCfeS  thaii 
Fouche  did,  has  established  a  new  kind  of 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  547 
goal,  so  low  and  small,  that  the  prisoner  can 
neither  stand,  sit,  nor  lie  down.  He  is  thrown 
into  these  holes,  and  asked  every  quarter  of  an 
liour,  whether  he  will  confess. 

A  passionate  Frenchman,  naturally  furious 
andlightheaded,  will  certainly  confess  any  thing 
to  inculpate  another  man,  on  whom  the  govern- 
ment wishes  to  lay  hold.  It  is  no  wonder  then 
tliat  this  true  Neronian  invention  finds  advo- 
cates among  the  base  hirelings  ofgovernmeiit ; 
but  tiiat  a  tribune,  a  lawyer,  and  a  philosophi- 
cal writer,  should  defend  it  as  a  necessary  re- 
medy to  bring  the  guilty  to  a  confession,  as  it 
lately  appeared,  is  indeed  astonishing. 

Liberal  as  the  special  tribunals  may  be  with 
these  arrests  they  find  it  sometimes  expedient, 
to  be  equally  liberal  with  the  discharge  of  pri- 
soners, in  tiie  course  of  the  process  agaii'.st 
them,  if  the  prisoner  should  happen  to  obtain 
tlie  protection  of  men  in  pr)wer. 

A  manufacturer  of  earthen  v.are,  a  M.  Four- 
my,  living  in  the  Rue  de  la  Pcpiniere,  at  Paris, 


348  BONAPARTE 

was  imprisoned  and  discharged  in  tliis  manner. 
He  had  bought  the  house  which  he  inhabited ; 
but  one  of  the  judges  in  the  special  tribunals 
at  Paris,  who  had  lent  a  sum  of  money  to  the 
vender  on  the  security  of  the  house,  wished 
to  purchase  it  also.  The  notary  who  had 
made  the  contract,  had  named  several  persons 
who  might  have  a  claim  upon  it,  and  whose 
consent  was  therefore  required,  or  who  must 
first  be  satisfied,  but  he  had  not  mentioned 
them  all.  The  incensed  judge  looked  upon 
this  as  a  "  falsum,"  or  cheat,  and  ordered 
the  vender  to  be  taken  up.  Some  months  af- 
ter, when  the  witnesses  had  been  properly  ex- 
amined, the  judge  tlew^  in  a  passion,  because 
the  purchaser  had  not  been  imprisoned,  and 
had  him  seized  likewise.  Fortunately  for  the 
two  prisoners,  M.  Fourmy  knew  the  minister 
Chaptal,  and  Fourcroy  the  counsellors  of 
state,  who  esteemed  him  on  account  of  his 
knowledge  in  chemistry.  M.  Fourmy  ap- 
plied to  them,    and  both   vender  and  pur- 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  349 
chaser  were  set  at  liberty  without  farther 
trouble. 

A  young  merchant,  a  native  of  Germany, 
whose  name  is  omitted  on  account  of  his  fa- 
mily, connected  himself  with  one  of  the  thou- 
sand swindling  and  gambling  families,  in  which 
ViiVx.<  so  much  abounds :  they  persuaded  him  to 
embark  with  ihem  into  a  great  enterprise,  and 
he  borrowed  money  from  his  friends  and  rela- 
tives so  to  do.  As  soon  as  these  swindlers  had 
obtained  all  he  was  worth,  and  all  that  he 
could  raise  from  others,  they  tempted  him  to 
commit  a  little  irregularity,  and  accused  him 
as  jTuiltv  of  an  intent  to  defraud  them.  These 
gentlemen,  with  the  judge,  instantly  laid  hold 
of  all  the  property  which  the  }'oung  man  had 
still  left  in  the  house,  which  was  jointly  inha- 
bited l)v  him  and  the  swindlers  :  he  was  sent 
into  prison.  After  having  been  a  whole  year 
in  a  most  dreadJul  place,  and  having  suffered 
beyond  description,  from  the  utter  want  of 
deaths,  he  v\  as  condemned  to  imprisonment 


350  BONAPARTE 

for  life,  upon  the  only  ground,  as  the  sentence 
especially  mentioned,  that  he,  being  a  beggar, 
was  still  suspected  of  a  fraud  on  their  family, 
who  lived  in  affluence.  After  having  passed 
another  year,  amidst  the  most  horrid  wretches, 
and  in  a  prison  of  criminals,  it  luckily  happen- 
ed, that  the  infamous  family  who  had  ruined 
him,  fell  into  the  suares  of  more  cunning 
rogues  ;  they  were  all  transported  to  the 
islands,  as  robbers,  thieves,  and  swindlers. 
An  old  compassionate  man,  among  the  judges 
of  this  unfortunate  youth,  who  remembered 
how  often  and  how  solemnly  lie  had  always 
declared  his  innocence,  now  recollected  him, 
and  ordered  his  release  without  further  pro- 
ceedings. The  young  man,  since  his  libera- 
tion, has  used  all  jjossiblc  means  to  have  a  new 
trial  and  reparation,  but  in  -vain,  as  he  had 
nothing  but  words  and  innocence  in  his  favor. 
It  was  not  so  easy  to  j^rovide  money  again, 
as  the  swindlers  had  absolutely  ruined  his  cha- 
racter, and  he  was  told,  that  he  must  make 


AND  THE  FRENXH  PEOPLE.       351 

u  deposit  of  a  ctitaiii  sum,  before  they  could 
enter  into  a  new  trial. 

These  monstrous  proceedings  are  even  ex- 
tended to  foreigners,  over  whom  the  tribunals 
have  no  jurisdiction.  The  secretary  of  the 
Ci>alpi!ic  minister,  a  Signer  Aecerbi,  was  ar- 
retted last  year,  and  sliut  up  in  the  depot  of 
the  poHce,  on  account  of  his  ha\ing  spoken 
too  freely  of  the  King  of  Sweden,  in  one  of 
his  publications. 

Nothing  is  more  surprising  than  the  care- 
lessness of  the  French  about  all  these  horrors  ; 
it  i"-,  as  if  tliey  had  lost  all  feeling  of  justice 
and  e(jui{y.  If  this  really  be  the  case,  it  is  no 
■wonder,  that  thev  bend  so  willingly  under  the 
galling  yoke  of  their  present  tj^rant. 

The  history  of  the  French  people  during 
their  melancholy  revolution,  may  be  compared 
to  that  of  an  uninformed  inconsiderate  young 
man,  A\ho  is  deleaUd  in  spite  of  his  courage, 
boldness  and  natural  strength,  and  remains 
entaii'jled  in  the  snare;*  of  the  insiduous.    The 


% 


352  BONAPARTE 

wilder  and  the  more  furious  iiis  struggles  to 
extricate  himself",  the  more  tame  and  exliaust- 
ed  will  he  lie  down  afterwards,  and  resign  him- 
self to  his  fate. 

In  this  forlorn  and  wretched  state  he  will  feel 
some  relief,  if  even  one  of -the  accomplices  will 
look  with  compassion  upon  him — will  hasten  to 
the  spot  to  protect  him  against  the  more  furi- 
ous attacks  of  his  desperate  companions,  who 
would  deprive  him  even  of  his  existence. 

If  this  new  protector  is  cunning  enough  to 
avail  himself  of  his  moral  weakness,  and  treat 
him  with  some  indulgence,  this  poor  entrapped 
young  man  will  even  feel  gratitude,  and  will 
be  most  strongly  secured.  The  fear  of  falling 
a  victim  to  his  implacable  enemies,  his  expe- 
rience of  former  times,  which  has  taught  him 
that  all  resistance  would  be  fruitless  against  the 
cool  calculation  of  these  robbers,  will  enhance 
the  tranquillity  and  ease  which  he  comparative- 
ly enjoys.  Unwilling  to  hazard  any  future  ef- 
forts i  no  longer  fostering  the  pleasing,  hope  of 


AND  THE  FRENCH  PEOPLE.  355 
release,  he  will  sink  down  in  a  perfect  consci- 
ousness of  his  exhausted  state,  anxious  to 
cherish  the  little  comfort  within  his  reach. 

It  cannot  be  denied,  that  the  French  peo- 
ple owe  their  political  existence  to  Bonaparte 
alone.  'Without  his  resolute  character  and 
energ}^  every  thing  would  have  gone  to  ruin. 
Fie  animated  with  new  life  those  who  had  lost 
all  hopes,  and  inspired  the  fugitive  with  cou-  - 
rage.  The  French  republic  w^as  so  near  its 
entire  dissolution,  under  the  last  Directors, 
that  Bonaparte  would  iiave  returned  from  E- 
gypt  too  late,  if  an  equally  resolute  mind  had 
characterizetl  any  of  the  European  sovereigns. 

The  nation,  prone  to  enthusiasm^  when  it 
saw  itself  saved,  could  not  escape  the  danger 
of  a  boundless  gratitude  to  the  man,  to  whom 
they  owed  llicir  preservation.  ISIany  trusted 
too  mrx'h  in  his  high  and  noble  character,  to 
fear  in  him  a  tyrant.  The  hope  that  he  would 
also  be  a  wise  legislator,  and  the  founder  of 
genuine  liberty,  as  he  had  been  their  Sa- 
L  ^2 


JJ4  BONAPARTE,  kc. 

viour,  animated  them,  and  tranquillized  their 

fears. 

Has  not  Bonaparte  the  will  to  render  tiie 
French  free  and  happy  ?  Is  he  ignorant  of  the 
best  means  to  promote  their  felicity,  and  to 
establish  a  rational  liberty  ?  Does  he  look  upon 
himself,  as  the  only  man  worthy  to  rule  this 
great  empire  ? — Docs  he  consider  the  French 
as  incapable  of  any  freedom  at  all  ?  Is  it  his 
persuasion,  that  they  must  be  governed  by 
force  and  despotism,  and  not  by  reason  ?  Does 
this  induce  him  to  deny  them  even  the  benefit 
of  a  liberal  education?  His  future  conduct 
will  throw  light  upon  these  questions.  We 
shall  follow  him  with  our  eyes,  and  his  actions 
shall  be  recorded  with  faithfulness  and  impar- 
tiality. 


APPENDIX. 


A  ^duoiationfrom  Lacratelle  s  Pamphlet  on  the 
Dictatorship  of  Bonaparte. — Vide  page  3 1 . 


L 


ilCRATELLE  In  his  latest  publication,  enti- 
tl'-d,  "  Sieves  and  Bonaparte,"  said,  "  All  our  insti- 
"  tutions  are  crumbled  into  dust,  but  the  powers  of 
"  tlie  soul  rise  again.  Be  always  Rrm,  never  strav 
*'  from  that  justice,  which  tlie  present  moment  de- 
"  mands — never  ab.nse  the  noble  and  beneficial  indul- 
"•  gence  our  laws  owe  to  all,  and  which  we  have  aright 
"  to  expect. — Be  alwavs  firm  in  honorably  respecting 
*'  the  public  opinion,  which  has  been  awakened  hy 
"  }ou,  in  ordir  that  truth  may  perfect  your  wisdom, 
"•  and  teach  you  to  defend  your  glor}'."  He  also  says, 
"  You  have  entered  into  a  conspiracv,  for  what  ?  to 
*'  alter  evcrv  thing  which  existed.  Your  conspiracy 
"  tended  to  what  ?  to  an  entire  revolution. — From  a 
"•  senate  instituted  to  maintain  the  constitution,  vou 
"  ha\-e  asked  ;  what  ?  the  means  of  overturning  this 
"  constitution.  You  have  asked  from  the  state  bodies, 
"■  who  represented  the  people  ;  what  ?  that  they  should 
"  ^ive  in  their  resignation — into  whose  hands?  into 


S56  APPENDIX. 

"  yours  ; — At  a  moment  when  a  foreign  war  was  still 
"  carried  on  with  acrimony ;  w^hen  a  civil  war  had 
"  broken  out,  amidst  all  sorts  of  misery ;  during  a  war 
•■'  of  all  passions,  in  presence  of  all  factions  ;  before 
*'  all  Europe  you  have  established — what  ?  a  dicta- 
*'  torship  !"  Jle  then  addresses  his  felloxv  citizens. 
**•  The  dictatorship  is  the  consequence  of  commotions, 
"  of  convulsions  in  the  state  body.  It  is  brought  forth 
"  by  circumstances,  it  ceases  with  them.  It  is  either 
*'  given,  or  taken  by  force.  It  falls  into  the  hands  of 
"  a  corporate  body,  or  in  those  of  a  single  man.  It 
"  exists  by  the  laws,  or  against  the  laws  ;  it  maintains 
*'  them,  or  it  annihilates  them.  It  saves  nations  ;  it 
"  oppresses  them.  It  prolongs  its  existence ;  it  ceases, 
"  when  it  should. — It  has  more  or  less  power  as  it  was 
"  contended  it  should,  all  according  to  the  character 
"  and  temper  of  those,  in  whose  hands  it  is,  or  ac- 
"  cording  to  the  character  of  the  people  by  whom  it 
"  is  established,  all  according  to  the  parties,  the  tem- 
"  per,  the  passions,  the  inclinations,  the  opinions 
"  which  may  prevail  there.  Let  us  well  ponder  the 
"  circumstances,  before  we  establish  a  dictatorship, 
"  or  before  we  reject  it ;  let  us  try  the  character  of 
*'  those  to  whom  we  trust  or  deny  it. — Let  us  grant 
"  every  thing,  if  it  incline  to  the  good — and  deny  all, 
"  if  its  tendency  be  bad.  Let  us  take  care,  that  it 
"  may  be  as  little  necessary  as  possible,  let  us  watch 
"  when  it  dispenses  favours,  lay  open  its  errors,  and 
"  if  it  must  be,  let  us  show  ourselves  terrible  against 
"  fatal  encroachments  ; — let  us  be  without  fear,  and 


AprENDix.  3S7 

"  without  enthusiasm  ; — let  us  enjoy  the  case  which 
*'  it  prepares,  but  always,  look  upon  its  actions,  either 
"  with  gratitude  or  mistrust  ;  here  with  admiration 
"  — there  with  reproach."  He  says  of  Bonaparte, 
'•'•  I  was  inclined  to  think  well  of  Bonaparte.  He  must 
*'  have  the  natural  magnanimitv  of  a  young  heart, 
*'  though  his  head  is  wonderfully  ripened  already.  If 
"  any  thing  can  make  him  giddy,  it  must  be  the  hope 
"  of  becoming  more  than  a  protector,  greater  than  a 
"  King  ;  to  be  the  restorer  of  blessings  we  thought  we 
"  had  for  ever  lost ;  to  be  the  founder  of  a  great  and 
"  glorious  republic.  Yet  the  seduction  of  power  may 
*'  determine  him,  who  had  only  erred  because  he 
"  thought  himself  too  sure."  He  says  at  last,  "  At 
"  the  end  of  the  18th  century  nothing  happens  which 
"  could  have  happened  at  the  end  of  the  1  Tth." 

Lacratelle  lastly  dwells  designedlv  on  the  conjunct 
tionof  two  men,  "  Sicycs  and  Bonaparte,"  which  ap- 
peared so  important  to  all  genuine  patriots.  He  says, 
"  Tlie  dictatorship  was  not  exclusively  destined  for 
"  the  warrior,  nor  the  philosopher,  it  was  reserved  for 
"  him,  who  united  wisdom  with  strength.  Would 
''  these  men,  the  last  hope  of  a  frantic  people,  sink- 
"  ing  under  a  load  of  crimes  and  sufferings, — would 
"  thev  not  forfeit  all  public  esteem,  exhibit  themselves 
"  as  cool  calculators  of  their  own  dangers,  and  betray 
"•  an  hateful  ambition,  who  found  their  interest  on 
*'■  the  ruin  of  tlie  state,  if  they  had  not  accepted  of  the 
"■'■  power  to  perform  all  possible  good, — that  power, 
*'  of  which  the}  arc  to  give  an  account,  which  would 


358  APPENDIX. 

"  have  been  granted  to  them  as  the  gift  of  despair, 

"  when  the  evil  had  reached  its  highest  pitch These 

"  remarks,  perhaps,  accelerate  the  resolution  of  Bo- 
"  naparte,  to  get  rid  of  this  troublesome  associate." 

This  bold  publication  had  scarcely  made  its  appear- 
ance, when  Sieves  was  also  put  aside. 

Quotation  from  Cabanison  a  gamine  Represen- 
tation, Kc. — Vide  page  3 1 . 

Cabanis  in  vain  notices  in  his  speech  on  the  25th 
Fiimaire,  in  the  legislative  commission  of  the  council 
of  five  hundred,  the  chief  requisites  of  a  genuine  re- 
presentative system,  and  the  functions  of  the  legisla- 
tive body,  and  of  the  tribunate.  Kc  exclaims  with 
anxious  fear,  "■  The  existence  of  this  magistracy  of 
*'  the  people,  connected  with  the  lil)erty  of  the  press, 
"  which  must  always  be  unlimited  under  a  strong  go- 
*'  veiTiment,  is  one  of  the  principal  guarantees  oipub- 
*'  lie  liberty  :  For  whatever  mav  be  attempted,  there 
*'  is  no  real  and  solid  security,  if  it  be  not  founded 
"  upon  public  opinion."  'J  he  same  anxious  presen- 
timent of  the  future,  draws  the  following  words  from 
the  orator  :  "  Our  situation  may  render  it  necessarj-, 
*'  that  certain  members  of  the  executive  power  place 
*'  themselves  at  the  head  of  tbe  armies,  or  that  nu- 
*'  merous  military  corps  in  tlie  neighbourhood  of  the 
**  grand  community,  v.iure  they  reside,  remain  un- 
*'  der  orders.  But  all  this  must  only  be  looked  upon 
"  as  a  provisional  measure,  and  we  must  not  dela)', 
*'  recumng  to  the  fundaiv-ental  principles,  as  soon  as 
*'  tranquillity  is  restored  at  hornc  and  abroad. 


I 

Appr.NDix.  359 

"  In  vain  cIocg  Clienler  exclaim  in  his  speech  at  the 
"  sitting  at  the  tribunate,  on  23  Germinal,  wherein  he 
"  wisely  demanded,  that  it  should  be  held  twice  in  a 
"  month,  during  the  future  vacancies  of  the  legislative 
*'  body,  for  8  months,  in  order  to  deliberate  on  every 
"  subject  which  might  appear  to  them  expedient  for 
"  the  benefit  of  the  administration,  and  to  communi- 
"•  cate  it  as  the  wish  of  the  tribunate.  In  vain,  ex- 
"  claims  he,  like  Lacratelle  and  Cabanis,  the  rest- 
"  less  enemies  of  reason,  the  self  interested  slander- 
"  ers  of  learning,  hoped  to  break  down  the  building 
'•'■  of  the  French  revolution.  They  flatter  themselves 
"  in  vain,  to  lead  us  back  to  fanaticism,  to  feudal 
'■'■  prejudices  :  their  mode  of  reasoning  in  favor  of  its 
"  possibility  is  so  easily  refuted,  that  it  is  now  iook- 
'■•  cd  upon  as  common-place  argument. 

••'  They  will  be  vuiuble  to  check  the  career  of  human 
"'  understanding  ;  like  the  Inquisitors,  who  could  not 
"  stop  the  rotation  of  the  earth  by  throwing  Galeleo 
"  into  a  dungeon  ;  like  the  persecutors  of  Faust  and 
"  Guttembvu-gh,  who  could  not  check  the  progress  of 
"  the  art  of  printing,  which  threatened  destruction 
''  to  all  tyrants,  and  clianged  the  face  of  the  whole 
''  earth." 

Obsti'va/ions,  hji  tJic  Author,  on  Lord  Grcn- 
i-illcj's  X^ote. — Mde  page  31. 

The  answer  of  Lord  Grenvllle  contained  nothing 
but  a  denial  of  the  most  incontrovertible  facts,  eva- 
sions, and  pretences  to  continue  the  v/ar.     It  appears 


360  APPENDIX. 

at  the  same  time,  from  the  speech  of  this  noble  Lord, 
in  the  house,  that  he  was  not  inclined  to  negociate. 
The  reasons  alleged  by  him,  and  his  partisans,  to 
justify  this  want  of  good  will,  are  remarkable.  They 
say  the  French  had  been  the  aggressors  ;  strange 
enough,  that  no  negotiation  is  to  be  entered  into  on 
that  account !  Then  every  war  must  be  a  war  of  ex- 
termination. The  worst  of  it  was,  that  the  English 
had  themselves  been  the  aggressors,  but  the  French 
knew  how  to  retort  the  charge  upon  the  English. 
Again  they  say,  "  They  could  not  treat  with  the 
*'  French,  as  France  had  been  continually  ruled  by 
"  republican  principles  since  the  Avar.  Yet  had  tliey 
"  not  attempted  to  negociate  with  Dumourier,  even 
"  in  the  first  year  of  the  republic  !  shortly  after  the 
"  sending  away  of  the  ambassadors  ?  Had  thev  not 
*'  sent  an  agent  with  proposals  to  the  committee  of 
"  public  safety,  Cco?nite  du  salut  public)  in  the  second 
"  year  of  the  republic  ?  Had  they  not  offered  in  the 
"  fourth  year,  to  treat  with  the  directory  ?  Did  they 
*'  not  repeat  the  attempts  again  with  this  same  direc- 
"  tory,  both  before  and  after  the  18  Fructidor? 

"  Did  they  not  declare,  when  the  negociations  were 
"  broken  off,  that  they  were  ready  to  renew  them,  if 
*'  the  revolutionary  government  of  the  republic  shew- 
"  ed  itself  inclined  to  peace  ?  Why  would  they  not 
"  now  treat  with  Bonaparte  ?  The  blunt  answer  to 
"  this  question  v/ill,  perhaps,  explain  the  whole  con- 
"  duct  of  the  English  ministry,  during  the  French 
"  revolution. 


APPENDIX.  361 

"  Bonaparte  was  looked  upon  as  a  man,  who  might 
"  have  the  high  imd  noble  ambition,  as  well  as  the 
"  power,  to  give  that  free  constitution  to  France, 
"  which  it  had  frequently  attempted  to  establish,  by 
"  several  means,  but  always  in  vain.  It  was  imagined 
"  that  he  could  accomplish  the  grand  work,  which 
"  England,  or  rather  the  ministry,  dreaded  since  the 
"  revolution  ;  conscious  of  their  having  attempted  to 
"  degrade  the  people,  and  undermine  the  English 
"  constitution. 

"  If  the  French,  strangers  to  all  true  republican 
"  virtues,  could  succeed  in  any  way  to  obtain  this 
*'  great  end  ;  how  much  easier  would  it  have  been  to 
"  the  English  citizens,  for  centuries  past,  who  have 
"  been  bred  up  to  liberty,  who  possess  the  two  grand 
"  requisites  of  free  citizens,  in  a  high  degree,  name- 
*■'  ly,  a  disposition  to  find  out  the  beneficial  law,  by 
*■'  a  fair  and  general  discussion,  and  a  sucred  respect 
"■'  tovv'ards  established  customs.'' 

Finally,  The  ministers  said,  "  That  the  French 
'*•  government  could  not  offer  any  guarantee,  and  that 
"  time  only  could  decide,  what  degree  of  confidence 
"  it  deserved.  As  if  it  were  the  custom  to  make  the 
''■  past,  and  not  the  present  nor  the  future,  the  basis 
''  of  negociations  ;  as  if  after  anv  change  of  govern- 
''  meni.  in  France,  i!ie  new  one  would  idways  make 
"■  war,  and  conjure  up  a  new  coalition. 

'•'•  After  nuun  contused  and  contradictory  rccrimi- 
"•  nations,  the  minister  gives  it  as  his  opinion,  that 
"  the  restoration  of  the  old  diuiisty,  suspcnc^d  by  the 
M  2 


3^2  APPENDIX. 

"  revolution,  would  be  the  best  security  of  govern- 
"  ment ;  it  would  ensure  to  France  the  undisputed 
"  possession  of  their  former  territory,  or  rather,  it 
"  would  prevent  anv  impression  on  the  English  peo- 
"  pie  disadvantageous  to  the  ministry.  The  speech 
"  of  Mr.  Pitt  in  the  House  of  Commons,  repeats 
"  in  plain  terms,  these  evasive  reprobations." 

Bonaparte  was  treated  there,  and  in  the  upper 
house,  like  a  faithless  robber  and  assassin.  The  sword 
was  therefore  to  decide,  and  peace  must  be  conquered. 

Quolat  ion  from  the  speeches  of  Datinou,  Jean 
de  Brie,  ami  Benjamin  Constant,  after 
Bonaparte^'s  return  f^om  Marengo. — Vide 
page  Q9. 

The  friends  of  liberty  availed  themselves  of  every 
opportunity,  to  remind  their  victorious  chief  of  his 
dut}",  whilst  the  nation  In  enthusiastic  strains,  loudly 
sang  his  praises.  In  the  sitting  of  the  tribunate  on 
the  3d  Messidor,  which  took  place  in  consequence  of 
the  news  respecting  the  victory  at  Marengo,  and  in 
order  to  deliberate  on  the  most  proper  celebration  of 
the  same,  some  patriotic  orators  did  not  fail,  after 
many  just  eulogiums  to  express  their  fears  and  wishes 
concerning  tb.eir  leader,  who  v/as  returning  crowned 
with  glory.  Daunou  savs,  "  The  battle  of  Marengo, 
*'  glorious  as  it  is  in  itself,  is  still  more  glorious  on 
"  account  of  the  consequences,  v/hichyou  are  entitled 
"  to  expect.  It  consolidates  the  power  of  the  republic^ 


APPENDIX.  363 

"  gives  additional  lustre  to  its  government,  and  se- 
"  curity  to  freedom.  It  dispels  the  fears  of  future 
"  institutions  incompatible  with  the  genius  of  the 
"  republic.  It  adds  to  the  joy  of  the  people,  the 
'■'■  national  festival,  (the  festival  day  of  the  republic) 
"  wliich  all  are  to  celebrate,  and  they  can  now  indulge 
"  the  noblest  feelings  of  the  human  heart,  in  the  bo- 
*■'  som  of  universal  harmon}',  without  the  bitter  pang 
*'  of  mournful  recollections.  No  !  this  libertv,  the  fruit 
"  of  so  manv  sacrifices,  the  price  of  so  many  triumphs, 
"  never  can  again  be  taken  av,'a\-  from  us." 

jean  de  Brie  endeax'ours  to  compare  this  remarka- 
ble victory,  (which  appeared  to  strengthen  anew  the 
pillars  of  the  republic)  and  the  heroic  fall  of  the 
noble  Dcssaix,  with  the  conquest  and  death  of  Leoni- 
das  and  Epaminondas.  He  adds,  "  ^Vho  will  prevent 
*■'•  us,  from  manifesting  our  feelings,  and  by  ever)'  en- 
''  covuagement  exciting  a  noble  display  of  generous 
"  sentiments  in  republicans,  bv  shewing  to  them,  that 
*'  the  memory  of  virtuous  citizens  is  engraven  on  the 
*'  hearts  of  their  magistrates." 

Benjamin  Constant^  praises  in  his  speech,  all  the 
Italian  patriots,  wlio  were  released  in  consequence  of 
the  treat}',  after  the  battle  of  IVIarengo.  lie  looks 
upon  it,  as  a  happy  foreboding  for  those  who  suffered 
for  the  cause  of  libertv  in  Ireland.  He  exclaims, 
'•^  Honor  to  all  republican  proclamations,  which  sound 
"  tiic  language  of  libert}-,  of  equalit}',  of  sovereignty 
*'  of  the  people  ;  this  language  is  worthy  of  heroes  ; 
*'  s<3me  contemptible  voices  would  fain  silence,  by 


364  APPENDIX. 

*'  empty  declamation.  Hail !  and  a  joyful  welcome 
"  to  the  highly  honoured  sacrifices  in  the  glorious 
"cause,  and  to  the  brave  out-lav.s,  whom  the  fate  ot 
"  the  republic  calls  from  subterranean  dungeons. 
"  May  v/e  follow  their  example  !" 

He  extols  the  peace,  which  he  prophecies  as  a  ne- 
cessary consequence  of  the  victoiy  of  jNIarcngo,  and 
exclaims  with  the  utmost  animation,  and  patriotic 
feeling,  "  Peace''secure3  the  rights  of  the  individual, 
"  the  rights  of  a  whole  nation,  and  the  representative 
"  system  to  futurity.  Peace  will  restore  to  us  the 
"  indispensable  liberty  of  the  press,  will  restore  to 
"  reason  its  innate  power,  and  open  to  the  enlightcn- 
"  ed  mind,  a  view  to  be  useful  to  mankind,  and  to 
"  promote  the  noble  independence  of  thought." 

Riouff  then  exclaims,  with  republican  enthusiasm, 
*'  The  soldiers  of  libertv  exhibit  themselves,  as  they 
*'  have  never  ceased  to  do  for  the  last  ten  j^ears,  as 
*'  models  of  patience,  and  submission,  as  the  bulwark 
"  and  pride  of  their  native  land.  What  are  the  hopes 
*'  left  to  the  enemies  of  the  republicans  ?  What  are 
"  the  proofs,  their  policy  can  demand  ?  Superior  to 
"  the  griping  pressure  of  want,  and  to  the  temptations 
"  of  affluence,  on  the  bai-ren  Alps,  and  in  the  fruitful 
*'  fields  of  Campania,  in  misfortunes  and  succ^ess,  they 
"  are  animated  but  by  one  desire, — that  of  shedding 
"  the  last  drop  of  their  blood,  for  this  grand  object  ; 
"  — liberty  and  equality.  Surrounded  by  raging  fac- 
"  tions,  dispersed  or  united,  in  dungeons   or  in  the 


Apprvnix.  365 

"  curulcan  seats,    their  legislators  still  resound   in 
*'  their  ears,  liberty  and  equality. 

"  The  revolutionary  tempest  rages  in  vain,  it  can- 
*'  not  obliterate  the  sentiment  ot"  liberty,  of  personal 
"  liberty,  so  deeply  rooted  in  the  hearts  of  men." 
The  republican  writers  manifested,  like  Guinguenet, 
their  fears  more  openly.  "  The  genuine  friends  of 
"■  liberty,"  said  he,  "  arc  not  v.'ithout  fears  ;  they  see 
"•  how  a  party,  declaring  against  all  paities,  endea- 
"  vours  to  reign  alone  ;  how  it  attempts  to  reintro- 
"  duce  all  ancient  institutions,  even  those  that  had 
*'  been  acknowledged  deficient  during  the  monarchy. 
"  They  are  uneasy,  as  they  cannot  see  where  an  end 
"  of  the  retrogression  to  those  abuses  will  be,  which 
"  crept  in  with  the  revolution. — As  the  men,  who 
"  stand  at  the  head  of  that  part\-,  whose  existence  can 
"  no  more  be  denied,  are  notorious  for  their  hatred 
"  of  every  form  of  republican  government,  for  their 
"  ambition  and  talents. 

"  But  the  government,  which  openly  declared,  that 
*'  it  would  have  no  party,  whose  interest  it  is,  not  to 
'■'•  throw  themselves  imprudently  into  the  arms  of 
*•■  those  who  cajole  them  first,  to  stifle  them  after- 
"  wards  :  it  will  shield  the  republic  against  the  new 
"  danger  with  which  it  is  threatened.  These  dan- 
"  gcrous  men  only  desired  quiet  in  former  times,  only 
"  the  permission  to  live  unobserved  ;  but  now  all  will 
*•'  sel^e  on  the  first  places,  will  realise  their  plans  and 
*'  s\stenis,  will  su'hvcrt  all  that  was  before,  to  restore 
"  it  iig-ain.     Tamily  of  Bonaparte  !  the  republicans 


366  APPENDIX. 

"  place  their  hopes  in  you  ; — You  will  repel  the  clan- 
"  destine  enemies  who  flatter  you  now,  but  do  not 
*'  pardon  it  to  have  been  the  supports  and  even  the 
"  founders  of  our  present  government."  Thus  spoke 
Ginguenety  when  the  news  of  the  victory  of  Mai-engo 
arrived ;  and  soon  after,  when  many  foreigners,  see- 
ing  the  universal  enthusiasm,  feared  for  the  destruc- 
tion of  liberty,  he  exclaimed,  ■•'  Ten  years  of  firm- 
"  ness,  of  energ}-,  and  of  heroism,  should  have  cstab- 
"  lished  the  opposite  opinion.  FAery  interest  centres 
'■'■  in  the  desire  of  maintaining  the  revolutions,  and 
*'  establishments.  The  majority  of  Frenchmen  have 
"  taken  too  active  a  part  to  recede.  ^Vhv  should 
''  they  now  alter  tlieir  opinion  as  they  see  an  end  to 
"  all  the  evils  of  revolutions — for  where  disturbances 
*'  take  place,  vices  will  manifest  themselveg,  as  they 
"  have  arrived  to  a  firm,  quiet  and  happy  order  of 
"  things,  as  genius  and  victory  protect  them." 

Quotation  from  Jean  d'Angelys,   "  Bulletin 
de  Farisy — -Vide  page  I07. 

St.  Jean  d'Angely,  offered  in  his  Bulletin  of  Paris, 
an  essay  on  usurpers.  After  having  quoted  a  passage 
from  a  publication,  entided  the  "  central  lodge  of 
genuine  freemasons,"  to  prove  that  Arminius  had  not 
been  an  usurper,  and  that  the  greatest  princes  had  been 
proud  to  rank  him  among  their  ancestors,  though  he 
did  not  descend  from  a  Cheruskian  Monarch,  he  adds, 
"  It  would  be  improper  to  attempt  to  prove  that  all 


APPENDIX.  367 

•*  governments  originally  bear  the  stain  of  usurpation  ; 
*'  we  must  therefore  acknowledge  the  humiliating 
"  truth-  that  nothing  exists  in  nature,  which  had  not 
"  its  origin  in  a  previous  dissolution."  He  also  shews, 
"  That  most  of  those,  to  whom  history  applies  the 
*'  title  of  usurpers,  were  such  extraordinary  characters 
*'  as  nature  onlv  j:roduces  at  great  intervals,  to  rescue 
"  civil  society  from  overgrown  evils."  Yet  what  are 
the  arguments,  of  which  this  shameless  counsellor  of 
state,  openly  avails  himself  in  the  face  of  a  republican 
people  ?  Hear  him  !  "  Who  has  ever  dared  to  ques- 
"  tion  the  fame  of  a  Deioces.  The  Medes,  his  coun- 
*'  try  men,  living  under  a  republican  government, 
"  found  themselves  assailed  by  the  murderous  and  fu- 
"  rious  attacks  of  democracy*  Deioces,  who  had  led 
"  thein  to  victon,',  subjects  them  to  laws  replete  with 
"  wisdom.  Rousing  them  from  the  dangerous  illu- 
**  sions  of  freedom,  which  thev  had  never  known  ; 
"  b')l(l  and  successful,  he  allows  them  to  proclaim  him 
**  the  first  King  of  the  Medes.  He  assembles  a  splen- 
*'  did  court  around  his  person,  and  only  shews  him- 
"  self  to  his  subjects  in  royal  splendor,  whilst  he 
*'  unites  strength  and  magnificence  in  his  government, 
"  and  becomes  the  founder  ot  tlie  greatest  empire  in 
"  Asia." 

The  wise  King  Hiero,  at  whose  feet  the  Svracusi- 
ans  laid  tlieir  tuniultuous  freedom,  is  also  held  out 
as  a  glorious  example.  "J "his  counsellor  verv  distinct- 
ly explains  himself  at  last.  He  says,  "  Never  were 
*'  there  so  manv  a>.scntient  \oices  upon  one  politica! 


368  APPENDIX. 

"  question,  collected  in  Paris,  as  that  of  the  consulate 
"  for  life.  You  desire  a  lasting  political  establish- 
"  ment. — One  party  begins  to  think,  that  a  dynastv  is 
"  not  alyays  of  divine  origin,  that  the  family  of  Hugo 
*'  Capet,  ascending  the  throne  of  the  Carolovingians 
*'  by  a  revolution,  had  no  other  right  to  it,  than  that 
"  of  possession.  Rights  of  this  sort  must  naturally 
*'  cease,  when  a  new  order  of  things  is  introduced. — 
*'  An  opposite  system  would  eternize  the  confusion 
"  in  political  affairs.  The  claims  of  Stanislaus  Xavier 
*'  are  not  to  be  compared  with  those  which  the  car- 
"  dinal  of  York  possessed  to  the  throne  of  England. 
*'^  The  commitment  of  the  British  government  to  a 
"  Dutch  general  in  the  vcar  1688,  (how  cunning,  to 
"  call  the  Prince  William  of  Orange,  only  a  Dutch 
*'  general)  is  a  true  rebellion  still,  if  the  consequen- 
*'  ces  from  certain  principles,  exclusively  applied  to 
"  France  were  also  applied  to  England  (how  malici- 
"  ous  towards  England,  after  the  negociations  for 
"■  peace  had  just  begun)." 

The  counsellor  prophecies  lastly  tlic  results  of  this. 
He  says,  "  The  accession  of  Bonaparte  to  a  consulate 
"  for  life,  v.'ill  be  a  grand  event. — As  the  best  insti- 
"  tutions  are  those,  which  proceed  from  circumstan- 
"  ces  ;  as  the  most  lasting  constitution  is  that,  which 
"  has  been  sanctioned  by  time  ;  it  is  to  be  hoped, 
"  that  the  constitution,  roughly  drawn  on  the  18th 
*'  Brumaire,  will  attain  its  final  perfection,  and  present 
"  to  France,  a  guarantee,  eagerly  wished  for,  by  all 
"  friends  of  tranquillity,  and  domestic  happiness." 


APPENDIX.  369 

Criticism,pa!^sed  by  the  Author,  on  M.  Nccker, 
Condorccty  and  Cmnillie  Jour  dan  s  last  pub- 
lications.— Vide  page  139- 

The  work  of  ^T.  Nccker  is  written  with  modera- 
tion ;  yet  had  he  lived  in  Paris,  he  would  have  neither 
com{)osed  nor  published  it  there  : — after  the  example 
of  Voltaire,  who  would  not  have  written  at  Paris 
what  he  sent  into  the  world  from  Femey  ;  the  man 
of  power  and  the  philosopher  must  not  stand  too  near 
each  other.  Nav,  the  honest  author  must  not  keep  the 
daily  compan}'  of  fortune-hunters,  nor  draw  his  plea- 
sures from  the  same  source  which  is  contaminated  by 
effeminate  men.  pAery  feeling,  every  thought  is 
questioned  and  ridiculed  by  them  :  it  is  thus  they  en- 
deavour to  elude  the  shafts  of  his  reproof.  Of  what 
use  can  he  he  to  the  friend  of  reading,  ajid  to  posterity. 

Necker  must  absolutely  have  lived  by  himself  to 
be  able  to  write  in  this  manner  ;  but  to  be  a  politician, 
he  ought  to  have  lived  with  the  world.  He  is  evidently 
unacquainted  w'lih  the  present  age,  else  he  would  have 
acknowledged  the  only  good  in  it,  namely,  the  dispo- 
sition in  man,  tocompaie  his  own  necessities,  with  the 
constant  wants  of  mankind.  Necker  is  possessed  of 
suflicicnt  penetration,  to  point  out  the  present  faults, 
and  to  propose  better  institutions.  Yet  his  e\'e  is  fixed 
on  th.e  present  alone,  and  in  vain  would  a  voung  read- 
er aok,  why  should  tliis  love  of  libert\-  be  the  inces- 
K  2 


370  APPENDIX. 

sant  mover  of  men  ?  In  vain  would  the  experienced 
reader  inquire,  whence  may  the  forms  of  government 
proposed  by  the  author,  derive  solidity  ?  For  that 
politician,  who  is  unable  to  quote  some  fundamental' 
institutions  of  society,  on  which  the  public  offices  and 
their  mutual  relations  may  securely  rest,  will  only 
complete  a  building  of  paper. 

This  essential  point  has  not  been  better  explained 
by  him,  than  by  all  the  late  bungling  constitution- 
makers  of  revolutionary  states.  Where  civil  liberty 
existed  before,  where  its  enjoyment  has  produced 
its  perfect  knowledge,  and  an  attachment  to  it,  there 
may  the  building  be  completed  with  ease. 

But  this  good  fortune  did  not  fall  to  the  lot  of 
France,  and  that  it  might  not  enjoy  it,  their  archi- 
tects, instead  of  laying  a  solid  foundation,  pleased 
themselves  in  ornamenting  the  rooms.  We  know 
pretty  well,  whether  it  be  comfortable  living  in  them  ; 
but  have  we  examined,  whether  the  convenience  of 
the  rooms  depend  on  the  antiquity  or  novelty  of  the 
building.  Have  we  examined  what  must  be  done 
first,  before  we  can  erect  the  edifice  ?  Such  inquiry 
may  be  avoided,  by  the  introduction  of  a  power, 
which  can  master  all  human  passion,  and  in  this  case, 
Necker  very  properly  says, 

"  La  Science  des  legislateurs  est  inutile  dans  des 
"  pays  ou  I'on  demande,  que  tout  soit  soumis  a  la  vo- 
"  lonte  d'un  seul :  il  n'y  a  plus  aloi's,  que  des  conseils 
"  a  donner  a  I'autorite  Supreme." — Unlimited  mon- 
archs  have  felt,  notwithstanding  tliat  all  institutions 


APPENDIX.  371 

should  be  the  offspring  of  necessity  only.     Frederic 
the  Great  asks  in  his  "  Epitre  a  son  esprit," 

**  Mais  du  pouvoir  des  rois  connoissons  I'origine  ; 
*'  Pensez-vous,  qu'  eleves  par  une  main  divine, 
"  Leur  peuple,  leur  ctat,  leur  ait  etc  commis 
*'  Comme  un  trcupeau  stupide  a  leurs  ordres  soumis. 

Does  he  not  solve  the  riddle  ? 

"  Les  crimes  effrontes,  I'artifice  des  traitres 
"  Forcerent  les  humains  a  se  donner  des  maltres. 
"  Th6mis  arma  leur  bras  de  son  glaive  vengeur 
"  Pour  inspirer  au  vice  une  utile  frayeur. 

He  also  addg — 

*'  D'autres  en  usurpant  un  bien  ilk'gitime, 

"  Devinrent  souvcrains — en  prodiguant  le  crime. 

With  the  work  of  iVI.  Necker,  another  publication 
may  l>e  read,  to  become  perfectly  acquainted  with  na- 
tional improvement,  namely,  Condorcet's  progres  de 
Pesprit  htimain.  Both  publications  have  their  merit ; 
both  authors  have  a  penetrating  eye,  and  wish  for  the 
public  good.  But  the  basest  hireling  of  a  marketing 
bookseller  in  Germany,  would  not  have  dared  to  pass 
by  the  fundamental  principle  in  ethics  without  noticing 
it,  like  Condorcet.  He  would  have  deduced,  in  the 
first  work,  all  rights  and  duties  from  human  nature,  to 
shew,  that  no  society  of  civilized  men  can  renounce 
them,  from  mere  prudence,  and  unqualified  submis- 
sion. As  indifferent  as  the  German  execution  expe- 
riment might  have  turned  out,  it  would  have  had  a 
solid  basis  at  least,  and  the  nation  would  not  have 


372  APPENDIX. 

suffered  any  body  to  force  upon  them  a  meaner  one. 
It  is  not  so  Avith  our  more  cultivated  neighbours,  who 
excel  us  in  many  respects.  Solidity  is  not  alwa\s 
their  chief  care,  and  if  men  determine  too  rashlv, 
they  will  often  be  disgusted.  Yet,  as  long  as  we  re- 
main undetermined,  we  are  in  danger  of  erring,  when 
we  think  ourselves  most  in  the  right. 

Thus  IVI.  Necker,  for  instance,  refutes  the  known 
aristocratical  saying,  "  Rien  par,  ct  tout  pour  le  peu- 
"  pie,"  (nothing  by  the  means  of  the  people,  but  all 
for  the  people,)  by  the  manifest  impossibilitv  of  its 
execution  ;  yet  of  this  maxim,  (supposing  the  possibi- 
lity of  following,it,)  he  says,  "  C'est  a  murveille."  It 
is,  as  if  good  fortune  and  right,  accidental  enjoy- 
ments, and  well  earned  propert\-,  were  one  and  the 
same  thing.  As  if  it  were  enough  for  a  people  to  be 
well  governed  only.  As  if  it  were  unnecessarv  for  the 
people  to  take  any  share  in  government.  A  comfort- 
able situation  ought  to  be  made  to  mankind,  but  why 
enlighten  the  people  ?  The  latter  privilege  may  re- 
main the  prerogative  of  a  few  favorites  of  nature  in 
its  most  limited  state,  limited  as  it  always  will  be. 
The  philanthropic  Necker  would  certainly  not  main- 
tain such  a  doctrine  ;  3-et  does  he  not  ? 

The  liberal  cultivation  of  the  human  mind  for  li- 
berty, and  its  permanence,  by  a  republican  govern- 
ment, secured  against  all  despotic  infringement,  has 
been  defended  by  a  cotemporaiy  writ-cr,  Camille 
Jour/lan,  in  his  pamphlet  on  the  true  sense  with 
which  the  nation  has  given  its  voice  on  the  consulate 


APPENDIX.  373 

for  life.  His  arguments  are  weak,  yet  the  pamphlet 
has  the  merit  ot  having  made  its  appearance  at  a 
time,  Avhen  all  France  was  silent,  though  the  grand 
majoritv  of  the  nation  were  against  the  measure. — 
Camiile  published  it  soon  after  the  closing  of  the  lists  ; 
not  to  prevent  the  First  Consul  from  receiving  this 
great  j.roof  of  national  gratitude,  but  to  remind  him 
of  what  he  owed  the  nation  for  their  gift,  and  what 
the  nation,  or  rather  he  and  his  equals,  expected  from 
13onaparte.  He  supposed,  perhaps,  to  fmd  the  ambi- 
tion of  a  prudent  state  minister  in  the  proud  despot, 
and  to  tickle  his  vanity  in  the  French  style.  He  was 
childish  enough  to  believe,  that  his  words  would  not 
be  lost  with  the  First  Consul,  and  therefore  noticed 
everv  thing  which  tlie  Cons'iuition  of  the  18th  Bru- 
maire  still  wanted  ;  to  render  and  secure  that  libertj 
to  the  French,  for  whicli  diey  had  so  long  struggled 
and  suffered,  and  which  they  anxiously  desired.  And 
this  is  nothing  less  than  the  complete  personal  secu- 
rity of  citizens,  which  puts  a  stop  to  all  former  arbi- 
trarv  imprisonments,  and  ue|Jortations  ;  the  full  en- 
jo\'ment  oflil)erty  ;  the  responsibility  of  ministers  and 
officers  of  state  ;  the  independence  of  judicial  pro- 
ceedings ;  a  well  conslitutioned  municipalitv,  chosen 
hv  the  communities  ;  the  gi  nuinc  freedom  of  speech, 
and  lil)erty  of  tlie  press  ;  regular,  uninfluenced  elec- 
tions ;  two  houses  of  parliament,  carefuUv  and  wise- 
Iv  constituted  ;  reduc'don  of  the  armv  to  its  proper 
bounds  ;  a  genuine  miiina,  as  the  bulwark  of  property 
and  libeity  ;  a  legal  regulation,  respecting  the  succcs- 


^74  APPEKDIX. 

aion  to  the  highest  magistracy,  in  case  of  death,  and 
no  family  heir. 

This  man,  who  had  the  good  of  the  RepubUc  at 
heart,  has  here  stated  before  hand,  not  only  the  very 
objects  which  Bonaparte  never  has  aimed  at,  since  his 
accession  to  the  consulate  for  hfe,  but  also  those  salu- 
tary regulations,  which  he  has  annihilated  by  his  se- 
natus  consultum.  The  good  republican  has  thus  in- 
formed the  proud  despot  of  every  thing,  which  might 
prepare  an  obstacle  to  his  designs,  and  must  therefore 
be  removed. 

Smooth  and  respectful  as  his  expressions  were,  they 
did  not  perhaps  stop  the  bold  usurper  in  his  rash  ca- 
reer. Master  and  servants  made  a  jest  of  his  publica- 
tion ;  they  prohibited  its  circulation,  but  did  not  con- 
fiscate the  copies  ;  and  it  was  doubtful,  whether  the 
author  had  obtained  this  prohibition,  in  order  to  in- 
crease the  sale  of  it,  or  whether  government  meant  it 
really  so.  All  official  prints  abused  it  with  greater  ma- 
lice than  that  of  M.  Necker. 

A  quotation  from  M.  Talleijrand'  s  earlier  pub- 
lication on  Lotteries y  vide  page  164. 

He  says,  "  Certes,  lorsque  les  yeux  de  1'  assemblee 
"  nationale  se  porteront  sur  les  loteries,  elle  apper- 
*'  ccvra  dans  un  instant,  que  cette  invention  execra- 
"  ble,  destinee  a  choquer  tons  les  principes  de  la  mo- 
*'  rale  au  mcme  degre,  ou  elle  viole  toutcs  les  propor- 
*'  tions  de  I'arithmetique  honncte,  frappc  le  peuple. 


APPENDIX.  375 

"  dont  les  moeurs  et  la  substance  sont  incessamment 
"  menacces,  detruit  Ic  gout  du  travail,  introduit  la 
"  fraude  et  I'infidc-litL',  engendre  les  vols,  les  assassl- 
"  nats,  les  forfaits ;  et  chose  honible  !  EUc  ofFre  le 
"  hideux  spcctale  d'un  gouvemement  exergant  Ic  plus 
"  vil  dts  cscamotagcs  ;  et  mettant  I'innocence,  le 
*'  Lien  etre  des  hoiumes  au  miserable  prix  de  quelques 
"  millions. 

Quota!  tuns  from  Mii'iibccuLs  translation  of  a 
zior/t\  that  appeared  in  England  many  years 
back,  under  the  title,  "  Essay  on  the  Order 
of  Cincinnatiisy 

"  L'institutionde  I'ordre  de  C'l'acinnatus  est  la  crea- 
^'  tion  d'lm  veritable  patriciat,  et  d'une  noblesse  mill-* 
"  taire,  qui  ne  tardera  point  a  devenir  vme  noblesse 
"  civile  et  une  aristocratic  d'autant  plus  dangereuse, 
"  qu'  t'tant  hcreditaire,  elle  s'  acroitra  sans  cesse  par 
S^*  le  terns,  et  se  fortificranicmepar  les  prejuges,quV'lle 
"  fera  naltre  ;  qu'  etant  nee  hors  de  la  constitution 
"  et  des  loix,  les  loix  n'ontpas  pourvu  aux  moyens  de 
"  la  reprinier,  et  qu'elle  pesera  sans  cesse  sur  la  con- 
*'  stitution  dont  elle  no  fait  point  partie  ;  jusqu'a  ce 
"  que  par  des  attaques  taniot  sourdes  et  tantot  ouver- 
*'  tes,  elle  }•  soit  melee  en  s'y  incorporant,  ou  qu'  apies 
''  I'avoirlong  terns  minee,  elle  I'cbranle  a  la  fin  et  la 
"  deiruise. 

"  Les  laniilk'S  patriciennes  (a  Rome)  ayant  rtuni 
"  dans  kurs  niuins  la  puissance  du  monarque  et  1'  in- 


376  APPENDIX. 

"  fluence  de  la  noblesse,  chaque  patrlcien  devint  im 
*'  Tarquin ;  et  Rome  n'eut  pas  plus  qvi'  au})ara\  ant 
"  sa  liberte  politique  ;  avec  cette  difFerence,  que  la 
*'  tyrannic  resida  desormais  dans  un  corps  :  et  mille 
*'  tyrants  sont  un  fleau  mille  iois  plus  horrible  et  plus 
"  redoubtable  qu'  un  seul  tyran,  &c." 

He  also  explains  the  origin  of  modern  Nobilitij 
in  Europe. 

"  La  noblesse  modern  de  l'Euro])e,  qu'  e  oit  eile 
*'  dans  son  origine  ?  Des  chefs  de  s^uerricrs  {V-roces, 
*'  qui  joignoient  la  barbarie  de  la  victorie  a  celle  des 
*'  moeurs,  dontles  premiers  titres  i'urcnt  Tusurpation 
*'  et  Ic  brigandage,  et  qui  ne  foncierent  leur  preemi- 
"  nence  au-dessus  de  leur  nation,  que  sur  Ic  droit  dc 
*'  commander,  qu'  ils  exer^oient  dans  leurs  combats. 
*'  C'est  de  la  qu'est  sortie  cette  foule  de  CcMiites,  de 
''  Dues,  de  Marquis,  qui  ont  inonde  et  ravage  I'F.ii- 
"  rope.  Tons  ces  titres  de  la  vanite  humaine  n'dtui- 
"  ent  dans  les  premiers  terns  que  des  titres  militaires, 
*'  qui  marquoient  les  diffcrens  degies  de  commande- 
*'  ment ;  mais  ces  memcs  titres  sont  devenus  bieniot 
"  des  distinctions  et  des  privileges  cclatant  dans  1'  or- 
"  dre  civil.  Bieniot  ils  ont  Ibnde  cette  ft'odalite  bar- 
"  bare,  qui,  pendant  des  sieclcs,  a  avili  le  genre  hu- 
"  main." 


APPENDIX.  a77 

He  shews  Lhc  ridiculous,  low,  and  superstitious 
origin  of  Orders  and  their  Insignia. 

"  Le  me  oris  me  me,  qui  devoit  s'attacher  a  leur  ori- 
*'  gine  n'u  pu  empecher  I'orgueil  et  la  miserable  va- 
"  nite  de  I'homme,  de  les  embrasser  avidement.  lis 
"  sont  devenus  un  nouveau  signe  d'inegalite  ;  una 
"  nouvelle  marque  qui,  au  gre  du  caprice^  etablit  en- 
"  core  des  rangs  et  des  barrieres  dans  les  etats,  ou  la 
*'  classe  ordinaire  des  citoyens  est  dcja  surchargc'e,  et 
"  fletrie  de  tant  de  distinctions  civilcs.  lis  ont  crec 
"  des  rangs  jusques  dans  la  noblesse,  fonde  un  nou- 
""  veau  patriciat  dans  le  patriciat,  un  nouvel  orgeuil 
"  dans  I'orgueil,  et  de  nonveaux  moyens  d'oppression, 
"  dans  I'oppression.  Une  partie  de  ces  patriciens  si 
"  fiers,  de  ces  descendans  de  gucrricrs  et  d'anciens 
"  tyrans  du  peuple,  est  devenue  elle  meme  une  esp ece 
"  de  peuple,  par  rapport  a  ceux  de  leur  ordre  que  la 
"  faveur  du  prince,  le  hazard,  le  bonheur  de  plaire, 
"■  ou  une  ob6issance  servile  aux  caprices  des  cours, 
"  ont  decorcs  de  ces  signes  imposans." 

Quotation  from  M.   Thomas  Mally's  Speech, 
"  Eloge  de  Marc-Aurel." 

IVI.  Thomas  exclaimed,  v/ith  enthusiasm,  "  La  U- 
"  bcrte  est  le  premier  droit  de  Hiomme,  le  droit  de 
"  n'obtir  qu'  aux  loix  et  de  ne  craindre  qu'  elles.  Mal- 
"  hcur  a  V  esclave  qui  craindroit  de  prononcer  son 
"  nom  !  Malheur  au  pays  cu  le  prononcer  scroit  un 
o  2 


3/8  APPENDIX, 

*'  crime ! — L'homme,  n6  libre,  mais  avec  le  besom 
"  d'etre  gouvern^,  s'etoit  soumis  a  des  loix,  jamais 
*'  aux  caprices  d'un'maltre  ;  nul  homme  n'a  le  droit 
"  de  commander  arbitrairement  a  un  autre ;  qui  usurpe 
**  ce  pouvoir,  debruit  son  pouvoir  meme. — La  loi  est 
*'  tout :  la  constitution  des  etats  peut  changer  ;  les 
*'  droits  du  citoyen  sent  toujours  les  mcmes.  lis  sont 
"  independants  et  de  I'ambitieux  qui  usurpe,  et  du 
"  la  he  qui  se  vend  ;  fondes  sur  la  nature,  ils  sont  in- 
**  alterables  comme  elle." 

After  the  Author''s  reasoning  on  the  Pope's 
Bulls  ill  Switzerland. 

A  different  fate  would  have  awaited  Switzerland,  if 
it  had  paid  attention  to  the  patriotic  appeals  of  one  of 
its  noblest  and  most  enlightened  fellow  citizens  twenty 
years  ago.  S.  MuUer,  in  his  history  of  that  countn,', 
made  the  following  remark  :  "  Every  nation,  however 
"just  and  peaceful  it  may  be,  in  the  course  of  tlie 
**  multifarious  political  changes,  may  unexpectedly 
*'  be  called  upon  to  exhibit  its  value  to  the  world. — 
*'  But  how  when  it  sleeps  !  The  great  views  of  policy 
''  are  lost  sight  of  during  a  long  contiiRied  peace  ; 
**■  the  foundations  of  constitutions  begin  to  deca^  ; 
*'  The  v.isdom  of  our  ancestors  degenerates  into  pre- 
"  judices,  and  disturbances  of  some  consequences  ex- 
*'  cite  but  little  alarm.  Jealous  of  each  other,  the 
*'  diiTertnt  Cantons  lose  sight  of  the  general  good, 
*'  and  are  guided  by  the  pitiful  motives  of  self-inter- 
"  est :  Thus  monarchies  fall  into  decay. — A  state, 


APPENDIX.  3rd 

**  which  raised  itself  to  that  dignity,  by  extraordinary 
**  virtues  alone,  dares  not  forget  itself.  It  is  incalcu- 
**  lahle  what  men  can  accomplish,  and  to  what  height 
*'  they  may  raise  themselves,  if  they  feel  unshack- 
*'  led.  The  spirit  of  your  forefathers,  whose  seats 
*'  you  now  fill,  demand  Jrom  your  wisdom  a  consoli- 
"  dation  of  our  mutual  bonds,  by  an  uncaRsing  war 
*'  against  selfishness  and  un])atriotic  designs  ;  he  calls 
*'  uj)on  the  first  and  wisest  among  you  to  set  the  glo- 
*'  rious  example.  Nothing  great  nor  good  can  be  ob- 
"  tained  without  it ;  but  it  cannot  be  accomplished 
*'  unless  \  ou  abstain  from  preventing  the  dissemina- 
*'  tion  of  knowledge,  (which  is  hateful)  ;  unless  you 
**  abstain  from  attempts  to  suppress  it,  (which  would 
**•  be  unavailing)  ,  unless  cou  guide  it  with  superior 
*'  wisdom.  If  it  be  true,  (and  who  will  doubt  it)  that 
*'  our  morals  depend  on  our  ideas  ;  that  on  the  former, 
*'■  on  our  oath,  on  industry  and  self-denial,  the  exist- 
"  ence  of  our  Republic  alone  depends.  What  would 
*'  the  world  say  and  think,  if  it  observed,  that  the 
*'  mode  of  our  public  instructions  were  not  freed  from 
*'  all  former  catholic,  scholastic,  and  controversial 
*'  stains  ;  if  no  instruction  of  the  history  of  other  Re- 
V  publics,  no  national  spirit,  no  national  peculiarity 
*'  were  to  be  found  among  ourselves,  during  a  period, 
"  when  it  cannot  be  secure  for  a  moment,  wilhout 
*'  the  higbest  patriotic  zeal : — The  world  would  say, 
*'  wc  desire  the  object,  but  not  the  means." 

/^  /  X  I  S. 


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